US Core PPI (MoM) July +0.2% vs +0.3% expected; June revised up to +0.4% from +0.2%.

Hang Seng rebounded from an opening drop to finish up 0.07% at 25,457.33 at midday after opening more than 150 points lower; Hang Seng Tech gained 0.30% to 4,790.56. Market turnover reached HKD 132.03 bln. Compute-hardware stocks led sector gains, with storage and optical-communications sub-sectors outperforming; nonferrous metals were the weakest group. Innovative-drug names recovered after an early dip. Selected movers: Cambridge Technology (06166.HK) +15.37%, Shengbang (03661.HK) +7.69%, CSPC PHARMA (01093.HK) +5.76%; Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) fell 3.81% after results; Lingbao Gold (03330.HK) -6.78%; Aluminum Corp of China (02600.HK) -5.01%.

As of Aug 13, China’s August cumulative box office exceeded 2.5 bln yuan, led by Spider-Man: A New Day; Eight Immortals!; Welcome to Long Restaurant; Kung Fu Women's Football; and Annual Meeting Can't Stop! 2.