Apple (AAPL.O) CFO expects fourth fiscal quarter revenue to rise 9–11% versus analysts' 12.1% estimate. Apple shares fell about 7% in U.S. after-hours trading.

China State Planner spokesperson Jiang Yi said at a July 31 briefing that progress on a unified national market has exposed deeper problems. The agency will accelerate rule‑making — rolling out "one regulation, three lists and three systems" — to define government economic‑promotion boundaries, clarifying what interventions are prohibited and what are permitted to preserve fair competition while allowing development. It will press to remove bottlenecks in goods and services circulation to raise factor‑flow efficiency and will closely monitor rectification to eliminate entrenched distortions. To tackle disorderly low‑price competition, authorities will use capacity controls, standards guidance, price enforcement and quality supervision to root out "involution" competition.

Preliminary data Thursday showed Italy's economy expanded 0.2% QoQ in Q2, above economists' 0.1% forecast, and GDP rose 1.0% YoY versus an expected 0.7%. Istat said domestic demand was the main positive contributor, offsetting a negative trade impulse. The preliminary release gave no detailed breakdown but said services grew while industry and agriculture contracted. Istat noted the outperformance occurred despite sharply higher energy costs linked to the Iran conflict.