Oman said it remains committed to maintaining maritime security and upholding international law, and opposes further escalation or the outbreak of conflict in the region.

Six Shanghai agencies, including the municipal housing and urban‑rural development commission, municipal finance bureau, PBOC Shanghai branch, Shanghai financial regulator and the municipal housing provident fund center, issued a notice on Aug 20 effective Aug 21, 2026, to optimize local property measures. The notice lowers the minimum down payment for second‑home commercial individual housing loans for purchases outside the Outer Ring Road (including areas previously under differential policies) from not less than 20% to not less than 15%.

US continuing unemployment claims for week ending Aug 8: 1.799 mln, vs. 1.79 mln expected; prior revised to 1.781 mln from 1.777 mln.