China A-share banking sector rallied intraday against the broader market. CITIC Bank advanced over 2% to a record high, its A+H combined market value topping CNY450 billion; Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank, Xiamen Bank, Bank of Suzhou and Bank of Shanghai were among the biggest gainers.

On the 23rd an IRGC spokesman said Iran has prepared response plans for a range of US hostile actions, explicitly including measures to counter economic pressure. He said recent US statements about waging the "most severe economic war" against Iran reflect Washington's failure to achieve military objectives and are intended to exert psychological pressure on the Iranian public; he added the US has imposed economic sanctions on Iran for 47 years.

SHFE silver most-active contract intraday gains widened to 2.0%, trading at 16,944.00 yuan/kg.