German Chancellor MERZ said Germany must quickly secure jobs and ensure German companies remain competitive at home and abroad.

ChiNext Index rose over 3% to a fresh record high; Shenzhen Component Index up 1.88%, Shanghai Composite up 0.25%. STAR 50 Index gained nearly 4%. Memory and storage chip names, lab-grown diamonds, CPO and PCB sectors led gains. More than 1,200 stocks advanced across the market.

A Western Europe heatwave on Wednesday set new records: the UK logged its hottest June day (36.1°C in Gosport, southern England) and France recorded a new national daily average of 30°C, topping Tuesday’s mark. Meteorologists attribute the event to a high‑pressure heat dome combined with atmospheric changes linked to a developing El Nifio, and warn temperatures are likely to remain above normal for months. Authorities reported pressure on hospitals, transport networks and power grids; France placed a record 72 departments on red heat alert, and the UK, Germany and Switzerland issued similar warnings.