White House National Economic Council Director Hassett said on interest rates he believes they can be kept unchanged.

美國至7月24日當週EIA天然氣庫存 280億立方英尺，預期350億立方英尺，前值320億立方英尺。

Tokyo core CPI rose 1.9% YoY in July versus market est. 1.8%, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications data showed; core-core CPI (ex fresh food and energy) rose 2.0% and overall CPI rose 2.0%. The acceleration — driven by a narrowing decline in electricity and gas costs and steady rises in processed food prices, despite a larger gasoline price drop after government measures — strengthens the case for the Bank of Japan to consider another rate hike in coming months, even as markets largely expect a hold today (31st). Takeshi Minami, chief economist at the Norinchukin Research Institute, said ongoing Middle East tensions could keep energy-related prices higher and push up food and other costs, meaning inflation may remain above 2% from this autumn.