At the open on Tuesday June 16, China's Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.26 points (-0.06%) to 4,094.21; Shenzhen Composite Index rose 53.26 points (+0.34%) to 15,584.37; CSI 300 Index rose 3.17 points (+0.06%) to 4,894.88; ChiNext Index rose 31.74 points (+0.79%) to 4,065.27; STAR 50 Index rose 3.38 points (+0.19%) to 1,751.71.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas said broader work on a 21st round of sanctions against Russia is underway.

Deutsche Securities chief economist Kentaro Koyama said the Bank of Japan would need to fully explain any decision to halt tapering of its monthly bond purchases, particularly after media reports that the government might tacitly permit further rate hikes only if tapering is stopped. He warned that if the BOJ both raises rates and stops tapering, markets and the public could interpret it as a political deal with the government, creating a serious risk of questions over the BOJ's independence.