Sept. 8 morning DR007 fell to 1.3719%. The PBOC conducted a 1 bln yuan 7‑day reverse repo, fully meeting primary dealers' demand. DR007 is a short-term money-market rate and is treated as China’s short‑end rate anchor; the spread between DR007 and the PBOC 7‑day reverse‑repo (policy) rate signals funding tightness—DR007 materially above the policy rate implies money‑market stress and may prompt PBOC liquidity injection, while DR007 at or below the policy rate indicates ample funding.

CITIC Securities said last week’s sharp fall in lithium prices was driven by SMM (Shanghai Metals Market) revisions to lithium carbonate inventory scope and sample coverage, which created a large weekly inventory spike, not by a material deterioration in industry fundamentals. It expects a September pickup in lithium-battery production to deliver substantial incremental demand while overseas supply additions lag, likely widening the supply deficit. Single-week inventory noise is unlikely to change the industry picture; CITIC views prices as clearly oversold and expects them to stabilise and rebound to 150,000-200,000 yuan/ton, supporting a recovery in lithium-sector stocks.

Iran's envoy to the IAEA warned US or Israeli strikes on Iran's IAEA-safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities, if 'normalized', would have serious consequences. He said the Bushehr nuclear power plant meets all safety standards.