Spot silver rose $1 intraday to $58.10/oz, up 1.75%.

The National Intellectual Property Administration said at a briefing that corporate innovation momentum continues to rise. As of end-June, 574,000 Chinese firms held active invention patents, together holding 4.254 million valid invention patents, or 74.8% of the national total, up 0.3 percentage points from year-end, further consolidating firms' role as the main innovation drivers. Brand protection also rose: one in four business entities holds a valid registered trademark and 55,000 entities use geographical-indication marks.

Japan prime minister TAKAICHI said at the prime minister's office on July 29 that as of 08:30 local time the Kumamoto prefecture earthquake had killed 13. Earlier, Kumamoto prefectural government reported 3 dead, 5 in cardiopulmonary arrest, 7 missing and 31 injured. cenc measured the quake as magnitude 6.8 on July 28 at 16:27 local time (15:27 Beijing), depth 10 km, struck Kyushu island.