YONHAP cited data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 24 showing South Korea received over 10.0 mln foreign visitors in 1H, a record for the period; the 10 mln threshold was crossed roughly one month earlier than in 2023, when it was only reached in mid‑July. May arrivals were 1.95 mln, up 19.4% YoY, and foreign card spending (including online) in May reached 2.1 tln won (≈RMB 9.27 bln), the first monthly card‑spend total above 2.0 tln won since statistics began in Jan 2018.

BANK OF JAPAN Governor UEDA said Japan’s economy may slow but remains in a mild recovery and signaled further rate hikes as underlying inflation approaches 2%. He said the BOJ will continue raising rates based on economic, price and financial conditions, with timing and pace to be decided after careful assessment of baseline forecasts and risks and while gauging the impact of the Middle East conflict. UEDA noted recent tightening has left financial conditions still accommodative and supportive of activity, warned high oil prices could push underlying inflation above 2%, and said the BOJ is monitoring Middle East developments, profitability of AI-related investment and overseas non-bank financial activity for implications to Japan’s financial system, which he described as broadly stable. Remarks were read by Deputy Governor HIMINO.

港股扩大涨幅，恒生科技指数涨1%，恒生指数涨0.5%。