On tonight's 1H 2026 earnings call Kuaishou (01024.HK) CEO Cheng Yixiao said the short-form drama sector has not hit a growth ceiling. Kuaishou produced about 60,000 short-form drama titles in 2025 and expects output to reach 500,000 in 2026. He said content formats may extend beyond passive viewing into IP derivatives, interactive dramas, virtual companions and integration with cultural tourism and creative industries.

A-share storage-chip sector extended losses; Tuolunsi, Jingzhida, Maijie Technology, Jingyi Equipment, Shengmei Shanghai, Maiwei, Xice Testing, Xiangnong Xinchuang, Huahong Hongli, Goke Microelectronics and Shengong fell more than 10%. Jingsheng, Defu Technology, Wantong Development, Shenkeda and Yake Technology also declined.

HSBC Asia FX research head Joey Chew said renewed yen weakness could prompt a hawkish Bank of Japan hike at the September meeting to shore up the currency. Markets price roughly 80bp of BOJ tightening over the next 12 months to about a 1.8% policy rate; HSBC's economics team now expects two further hikes—in September and Q1 2027—taking the policy rate to 1.5% (up from a prior view of a single December hike). Chew said a sustained yen recovery depends on more attractive real rates, easing fiscal concerns and Japanese residents shifting assets from overseas into domestic markets.