Spot gold climbed to $4,430/oz, up 1.72% on the day.

Russia's Arctic LNG-2, led by Novatek, ramped production in July and August to about 27 mln cubic meters of gas per day—almost double August 2025 levels—enabled by an expanded shadow tanker fleet; the capacity rise could translate into higher LNG output. Vessel-tracking compilations show the project now uses at least 20 ships, most with opaque ownership structures, up from 11 at end-December. Exports exceeded 500,000 tonnes in both July and August, record monthly highs, equivalent to roughly 700 mln cubic meters per month by Novatek's conversion. Arctic LNG-2 is central to Russia's plan to double LNG production; Western sanctions after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed the original timetable past 2030.

A股零售板塊走勢分化，百大集團封板漲停，中百集團、愛嬰室、益民集團、寧波中百等漲超2%；國芳集團、東百集團均跌超4%，大連友誼、新華百貨、合百集團、中央商場等均跌超3%。