Japan's 2-year government bond yield rose 1.5 bps to 1.505%, the highest level since May 1995.

European stocks closed sharply lower on July 23 (Thursday): Germany's DAX fell 419.90 points (-1.67%) to 24,754.20; the UK’s FTSE 100 dropped 77.81 points (-0.73%) to 10,639.16; France's CAC 40 slid 138.80 points (-1.64%) to 8,299.09; the STOXX Europe 50 lost 107.64 points (-1.70%) to 6,209.35; Spain's IBEX 35 fell 326.19 points (-1.67%) to 19,245.11; Italy's FTSE MIB declined 1,470.04 points (-2.78%) to 51,322.00.

GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, said its portfolio was 56% equities at end-March (51% a year earlier); fixed income 22% (26% a year earlier); real assets 22% (23% a year earlier).