cenc reported a magnitude 3.7 earthquake at 13:22 on Aug 19 (local time) in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai (37.84N, 95.62E); hypocenter depth 10 km.

Trump said there are no negotiations or talks with Iran ongoing or scheduled; the naval blockade remains fully effective; the Strait of Hormuz is open and operating normally; all sea mines have been removed or detonated.

Mizuho Global Markets co-head said the Bank of Japan could hike as soon as September and may raise the frequency of policy adjustments from roughly every six months to quarterly. Yen weakness and rising inflationary pressure are prompting faster action; Mizuho does not rule out two hikes before year-end that could lift the policy rate to 1.5%. Markets price a 78% chance of a Sept. 18 hike. Mizuho will keep a conservative JGB strategy, focusing on inflation-linked bonds and short-dated paper. The 10-year JGB yield has climbed to a 30-year high but remains below Japan’s roughly 4% nominal growth; global structural shifts and investment growth could push Japan’s neutral rate higher and inflation risks are skewed to the upside. On FX, U.S.-Japan joint intervention signals both sides oppose further yen depreciation, though the currency’s weakness partly reflects BOJ easing. Mizuho views Japan as undergoing a multi-decade economic transformation; equities remain attractive but market volatility may increase.