China's State Council issued the National Health '15th Five-Year Plan', specifying targets, policy measures and major projects to accelerate construction of Healthy China during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

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.

Fed Governor WALLER said the unemployment rate has historically been the best gauge of labor-market conditions and has remained very stable.