WTI crude reached $75.00/bbl, up 0.44% intraday.

Bank of Korea data show South Korea's 2025 tourism deficit with Japan widened to US$5.7054bn, the largest since comparable records began in 1998. Receipts from Japanese visitors were US$2.7373bn while outbound spending by South Korean residents in Japan reached US$8.4427bn. The travel balance swung to a surplus in 2020-21 amid COVID disruptions but reverted to a deficit in 2022 and has expanded annually, surpassing US$5.7bn in 2025. The Bank of Korea attributed the widening deficit to record outbound travel to Japan, citing yen depreciation and the full post-COVID restoration of international flight routes as drivers of strong demand.

Hong Kong power-equipment stocks mostly fell: Xinyi Solar (00968.HK) down over 5%, Dongfang Electric (01072.HK) down over 4%, Flat Glass Group (06865.HK) and Weichai Power (02338.HK) down over 3%.