Spot gold rose above $4,550/oz, up 0.68% intraday.

BofA Securities says Pop Mart (09992.HK) reported H1 results below expectations and lowers adjusted EPS forecasts for FY2026/FY2027 by 22%/24%. Price target is cut 4% to HKD153 (from HKD160). BofA now forecasts FY2026 adjusted net profit of RMB10.65 bln, implying H2 YoY decline of about 36%. The stock trades at roughly 13x 2026e PE, near historical lows; BofA projects adjusted net profit CAGR of low single digits for 2025–28 and views valuation as broadly reasonable. Rating is maintained at Neutral with limited downside, citing: a planned RMB2–5 bln buyback over the next six months (≈1.1–2.8% of market cap); expected reduction in H2 FX losses after an ~RMB700m FX loss in H1; and investor Duan Yongping increasing his stake to 7.7%.

CNN, citing sources, reports the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has begun returning to port but remains in the US Fifth Fleet area of operations.