China A-share steel sector gained; Shagang hit the daily price limit. Dazhong Mining, Guangda Special Materials, Hesteel, Jiuli Special Materials, Angang and Wujin Stainless also traded higher.

On Aug 2, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed a decree reappointing Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister after accepting the collective resignation of Pashinyan’s government. Pashinyan had said on July 30 the cabinet would resign on Aug 2 following the formation of a new parliament. Under the Armenian constitution the president appoints the prime minister nominated by the parliamentary majority.

The PBOC held its H2 2026 work meeting, instructing a steady deepening of financial reform and opening-up. It said it will actively but prudently expand central-bank currency swap lines and local‑currency settlement cooperation; support and ease foreign institutions’ participation in panda bond issuance; coordinate offshore RMB market development, support Shanghai in boosting cross‑border and offshore financial services and consolidate Hong Kong’s offshore RMB hub role; deepen facilitation of cross‑border trade and investment financing; advance the Cross‑Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and international cooperation on cross‑border payments; and enhance cross‑border infrastructure for the digital RMB.