Qianyi Aerospace (Beijing) Technology Co. and Dongfang Spaceport (Shandong) Development Group signed an agreement today to jointly develop a sea‑based liquid‑rocket launch project. China’s first aerodynamic‑deceleration recoverable rocket, Xuaniao‑R, will complete final assembly and testing at Qianyi’s main assembly base in Haiyang and then be transported to Dongfang Spaceport One (HOS‑1) for its maiden flight.

New York (COMEX) copper futures held near record highs as traders weighed potential US import tariffs and hope for progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz. YTD gains exceed 17% and the COMEX-LME copper premium has widened. Market participants are positioning for forthcoming US tariff measures; the US's relatively high copper import tariff regime has routed large volumes into US ports, tightening supply outside the United States. Dollar weakness also lifted copper, lead, zinc and aluminium. As of 12:45, COMEX copper was flat at $6.65/lb, under 1% below its May record. LME copper rose 1.4% on Tuesday to its strongest close since May and was steady on Wednesday.

Ukraine attacked a Wildberries warehouse in Russia's Tula region.