European Commission proposes banning social-media use by children under 13 and seeks an EU-wide minimum age of 15 for opening personal accounts.

A-share construction machinery sector slipped this morning; at midday, leading listed firms held emergency investor meetings to shore up confidence. One leading company said the industry remains on a steady growth path, with no material downside and no change to its operating or earnings outlook; it expects Q3 growth to remain favorable, with overseas sales still accelerating and domestic product prices stabilizing and recovering. A separate company representative said rising oil prices and rate hikes could broadly affect the sector, but affirmed long-term confidence in industry prospects.

European equities opened higher on Sept 17 (Thursday). Germany's DAX 30 rose 92.62 points, or 0.36%, to 25,651.50; the UK's FTSE 100 gained 38.78 points, or 0.36%, to 10,727.25; the STOXX Europe 50 increased 31.55 points, or 0.50%, to 6,298.05; Spain's IBEX 35 added 66.50 points, or 0.34%, to 19,702.30; Italy's FTSE MIB climbed 167.38 points, or 0.32%, to 52,136.50; France's CAC 40 rose 38.59 points, or 0.47%, to 8,179.18.