Germany's preliminary September manufacturing PMI due in 10 minutes.

At a State Council Information Office briefing on Sept. 23, Minister Li Changguan said China will continue to push inclusive, basic and safety‑net social welfare under the 15th Five‑Year Plan. During the 14th Five‑Year period the government provided routine support for 39.36 mln low‑income recipients, 4.88 mln people in extreme difficulty and 0.57 mln orphans and children without guardians. Two targeted subsidy programs reached 11.98 mln disadvantaged disabled people and 16.75 mln people with severe disabilities. The basic eldercare service system is now fully established; more than 53 mln elderly receive an allowance and eldercare institutions and facilities total about 395,000. The ministry said it will prioritize four key work areas in the 15th Five‑Year Plan.

Microsoft (MSFT.O) will continue to consider shareholder proposals under its existing submission threshold through next year’s annual meeting under a one-year agreement with investor-rights activist Paul Chesser. The move comes as the SEC weighs tightening shareholder-proposal rules—changes critics say would marginalize retail investors, religious groups and unions—and could blunt efforts to shift power from shareholders to executives. Microsoft said maintaining the current eligibility threshold for one year will provide a clear, predictable process for the next proxy cycle.