Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed a commander in Hamas’s military security branch, saying the action was taken to eliminate an imminent threat.

Huatai Securities said Xinluo Lithium Battery released September production schedules showing sample firms’ battery output at 211.3 GWh in September, up 6.3% MoM; cathode 249 kt, up 5.5% MoM; anode 218 kt, up 4.1% MoM; separator 2.31 bln sq m, up 1.9% MoM; electrolyte 147 kt, up 3.5% MoM. All five segments hit year-to-date highs, reflecting a continued seasonal uptick. Domestic energy-storage tendering and installations are recovering and European vehicle electrification is accelerating; August saw wider price increases across battery segments. Combined with year-end export tax rebate-driven export pushes and the energy-storage grid-connection season, Huatai expects Q4 production to remain elevated. Monitor the lithium-battery price-up cycle and technology trends: sodium batteries scaling from pilot to mass production and commercialization of solid-state batteries.

Japan's Nikkei 225 opened down 1,058.52 points, or 1.60%, at 65,156.82 on Wednesday, Sept. 2.