Statistics Korea said June, Q2 and 1H births were the highest in nearly seven years. June births totaled 23,111, up 3,115 YoY (+15.6%); monthly births have risen YoY for 24 consecutive months.

Sources said SoftBank is discussing with banks a bond sale of $10–20 billion to help refinance loans taken to fund its OpenAI investment. The bonds, likely denominated in dollars and euros, could price as early as September and would partly repay a $40 billion bridge loan taken earlier this year. SoftBank plans to invest nearly $65 billion in OpenAI by October, with part financed by debt. The group is weighing a 144A issuance for the first time in over a decade to access US institutional investors and broaden demand.

UK CBI retail sales balance for August -48, previous -26.