Pan Gongsheng said authorities will introduce a liquidity-support tool to address large redemptions at non-bank financial institutions.

Russia's foreign ministry said LAVROV will make a working visit to Iran on the 19th and meet President PEZESHKIAN and Foreign Minister Araghchi. Talks will focus on implementing prior leaders' agreements and expanding cooperation on trade, investment, transport/logistics and energy projects. They will also exchange views on Persian Gulf security and the regional fallout from US and Israeli military actions against Iran, and on closer coordination within the UN, BRICS, SCO and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Asian equities opened lower as concerns over AI financing outweighed support from retreating oil prices. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.2%, South Korea's KOSPI was down 0.8% and Taiwan's weighted index fell 1.5%. ANZ said the oil pullback may be temporary. The G7's accelerated release of crude and diesel reserves is seen as coming too late and largely priced in, limiting any upside.