Houthi forces in Yemen said they will continue maritime restrictions on Saudi oil vessels under a "blockade to counter blockade" strategy, and that eight Saudi oil tankers have been forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. The group warned it will act against relevant ships within its capabilities and said it will continue efforts to lift the blockade on Yemen and defend its rights.

European equities on Friday, July 31: Germany's DAX closed up 68.42 points (+0.27%) at 25,642.92; Britain's FTSE 100 closed down 21.08 points (-0.19%) at 10,876.19; France's CAC 40 closed up 24.00 points (+0.28%) at 8,509.64; STOXX Europe 50 closed up 14.95 points (+0.24%) at 6,359.35; Spain's IBEX 35 closed up 15.58 points (+0.08%) at 19,773.28; Italy's FTSE MIB closed up 52.62 points (+0.10%) at 52,157.00.

Four Chinese financial regulators, including the National Financial Regulatory Administration, issued implementation opinions to strengthen financial-institution governance. The guidance mandates protection of financial consumers and other stakeholders’ lawful rights, expands financial literacy and consumer education, and requires financial product and service suitability standards with periodic updates. It stipulates legal protection for consumers’ rights to information, autonomous choice and fair dealing, and promotes diversified dispute-resolution channels with encouragement of mediation. The opinions support orderly participation of minority shareholders and employees in corporate governance, endorse employee directors and supervisors, and encourage protection of employee and stakeholder complaints and whistleblowing on illegal or non-compliant conduct.