US continuing jobless claims for week ended July 11: 1.796 mln vs 1.807 mln expected; prior week revised to 1.798 mln from 1.805 mln.

A-share photovoltaic equipment stocks strengthened in the afternoon; Saiwu Technology hit the daily limit, while Deye, Airo Energy, Sungrow, Ginlong Technologies and GoodWe also rose.

Mizuho economist Yusuke Matsuo said Bank of Japan Governor UEDA is likely to reiterate a push for further rate hikes at next week’s press conference, but that is unlikely to reverse the yen’s weakness. Markets have largely priced in roughly one hike every six months, limiting the currency impact of repeat hawkish signals. Matsuo warned that any tone read as dovish could deepen yen weakness amid broad dollar strength. Markets expect the BOJ to hold its policy rate at 1% next week to assess the effect of the previous hike.