Bank of Korea said short-term external debt was $198.5 bln at end-June, up from $183.6 bln at end-March.

As of July 22, two successive heatwaves in France produced over 7,000 excess deaths, the French public health authority said. It recorded at least 5,764 excess deaths from June 17–July 2 and 1,243 from July 3–22. During the second wave, people aged 75 and older accounted for three quarters of deaths. The record-hot July — the hottest month since 1900 — strained industrial and public-health services, sparked severe wildfires and disrupted transport, food and energy production. A government minister earlier estimated the heatwaves could cost France up to €15 billion (US$17.5 billion).

Eurozone government bond yields edged lower, tracking US Treasuries as global markets stabilized after Tuesday’s sell-off. Final July inflation data remain pending, limiting near-term data-driven moves. RBC Capital Markets said detail on July inflation drivers should prove relatively muted and expects preliminary readings to be confirmed. Germany will auction €6bn of 2036 bunds in August; Finland plans a new seven-year issue as scheduled. The 10-year German bund yield was down 0.2bp intraday at 3.253%, after hitting 3.272% on Tuesday.