At the morning open, China’s main futures contracts were mixed. Shanghai silver led gains, up nearly 3%. Pulp, fuel oil, LPG and asphalt rose about 2%; SHFE lead gained just over 1%; 20# rubber and low-sulfur fuel oil (LU) were up around 1%. On the downside, coking coal, stainless steel, rapeseed meal, glass and PVC fell more than 1%; rapeseed oil and SHFE nickel were down about 1%.

Hainan provincial meteorological bureau says a South China Sea tropical depression is likely to stall and loop over the northern Beibu Gulf and Qiongzhou Strait for the next three days and may intensify into a tropical storm. From Aug. 22–24, Hainan’s northwest half expects heavy to very heavy rain with locally extreme totals; the rest of the island will see moderate to heavy rain with isolated heavy showers. Offshore areas around Hainan will see gusts of Beaufort 8–9, with the northern Beibu Gulf reaching Beaufort 9–10; Qiongzhou Strait may face prolonged suspension of ferry and shipping services.

An informed source said on Aug. 20 the nuclear-powered US carrier Abraham Lincoln has begun returning. The USS George Washington has already arrived in the Middle East to relieve Lincoln’s extended deployment. A US official said Lincoln remains in the US Navy Fifth Fleet operating area and has not yet left the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Lincoln was sent to the Middle East in January for operations against Iran and maritime interdiction and has been deployed for more than 250 days; recent reports cite crew living-condition and mental-health strains from the high operational tempo and prolonged deployment.