China's Shanghai Composite Index opened down 23.15 points (-0.60%) at 3,853.63 on Friday, July 24; Shenzhen Composite Index opened down 208.27 points (-1.47%) at 13,915.04; CSI 300 Index opened down 42.59 points (-0.90%) at 4,685.41; ChiNext Index opened down 60.02 points (-1.68%) at 3,515.50; STAR 50 Index opened down 23.43 points (-1.31%) at 1,766.26.

Japan's net purchases of foreign bonds in the week to July 17 were a net sale of ¥714.4 bln. The prior reading was revised slightly to ¥1,090.0 bln from ¥1,090.1 bln.

China Index Research Institute data show June secondhand transaction volumes in key cities remained higher YoY; Shanghai secondhand prices rose for a fourth consecutive month MoM and Shenzhen shifted from decline to growth. The 100-city average secondhand residential price was 12,639 yuan/sq m, down 0.42% MoM, a 0.10ppt larger decline than May. By city count 12 cities were up MoM and 88 down; among core cities Shanghai +0.10% MoM, Shenzhen +0.03% MoM.