Bank of Japan deputy governor HIMINO said real interest rates remain negative, particularly in the short- and medium-term.

BEA second estimate: real GDP rose at a 1.5% annualized rate in Q2, unchanged from the advance estimate and after a 2.1% increase in Q1. Personal consumption rose 3.4% annualized (initially 3.2%). Nonresidential fixed investment increased 8.5% annualized. Final sales to private domestic purchasers, a narrower measure of underlying demand that excludes net exports, inventories and government spending, was revised up to a 4.2% annualized gain (initially 3.9%), the strongest in over three years. Government spending fell 1.0% annualized, reflecting a large drop in non‑defense outlays.

The Hang Seng Index closed down 0.34% and the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.13% after low-range trading; turnover HK$233.5 billion. PCB, optical-communications and chip stocks led gains: Lanqi Technology (06809.HK) rose over 12%, Kingboard Laminates (01888.HK) and Changfei Optical Fibre & Cable (06869.HK) rose over 10%, Zhaoyi Innovation (03986.HK) gained about 7%, Huahong Hongli (01347.HK) rose about 4%, and SMIC (00981.HK) climbed about 2%. AI large-model names outperformed: Zhipu (02513.HK) +12%, MINIMAX-W (00100.HK) nearly +4%. Baidu (09888.HK) jumped over 5% after adding Hong Kong as a primary listing venue and saying it will complete a dual-primary listing on Sept. 1.