Hong Kong AI-related stocks extended losses: MINIMAX-W (00100.HK) down 10%, Zhipu (02513.HK) down 5.6%.

恒生科技指数早盘走低，现跌幅扩大至1%；恒生指数现跌0.31%。

USD/CAD strengthened for a second session, trading around 1.4270 in Thursday’s Asian session. Oil’s advance has supported the commodity-linked CAD and may cap USD/CAD upside. Reports that the Trump administration asked the Pentagon to draft strike plans against Iran ahead of the U.S. midterms—contrary to market expectations that Washington would avoid escalation before the vote—pushed oil higher. RABOBANK analysts say Canadian political polarization is widening beyond the east; Alberta will vote on Oct. 19 on whether to secede or at least launch an independence assessment, a development that could raise political risk for Canadian assets and the CAD.