Citigroup cut its global healthcare sector rating to Neutral from Overweight.

A-shares opened lower and weakened through the morning. At midday the Shanghai Composite fell 1.54%, the Shenzhen Composite Index fell 2.61% and the ChiNext Index fell 2.38%. Chinese medicine names reversed after a weak open; Longshen Rongfa and Tianmu Pharmaceutical hit limit-up, while Shanghai Kaibao, Biovalley and Jiu Zhitang outperformed. Banks traded firmer: Suzhou Bank rose more than 6% intraday, with Ningbo Bank, Xiamen Bank and China Construction Bank also higher. Commercial-space stocks plunged: more than 10 names hit limit-down, including Aerospace Development, Shanghai Gangwan, West Materials, Shanghai Hugong, Shenjian and Tongyu Communications; Xinwei Communications, CETC Blue Sky and Mengsheng Electronics were among the heaviest losers.

Iraq's foreign ministry reiterated that national sovereignty must be respected and its stability not undermined to help consolidate regional security.