Japan September inventories +2.5% MoM, prior -0.6%.

WHO member states have nominated seven candidates to contest the post of WHO director-general.

China's State Taxation Administration chief Hu Jinglin chaired an expanded party meeting on Oct. 30, instructing tax authorities at all levels to integrate strict party governance with strict tax administration and to collect taxes and fees in accordance with law. The meeting directed authorities to firmly guard against collecting "excessive taxes and fees", to steadily and prudently advance tax compliance management, and to unswervingly deepen tax collection and administration reform to ensure high-quality tax administration.