GBP/USD climbed to a three-month high of 1.3561.

Foreign investors were net sellers of JGBs by 58.7 bln yen in the week to Aug 7, versus net purchases of 558.9 bln yen in the prior week.

Guizhou provincial government issued a 2026–28 unconventional natural gas three-year action plan targeting production of >0.9 bln cubic meters in 2026, >1.7 bln in 2027 and >2.2 bln in 2028; self-sufficiency targeted at >40% by 2028, 60% by 2030 and near full self-sufficiency by 2035. The plan calls for a provincial natural gas trading center and regional production‑to‑sales coordination pilots to link upstream and downstream, aiming to unlock upstream capacity, expand downstream markets, strengthen resource allocation and boost Guizhou’s gas pricing power and market competitiveness.