Nikkei reports the Japanese government is expected to provide a 150 billion yen subsidy to a consortium led by Rakuten Group.

Chinese shares opened flat and traded choppily; the Shanghai Composite dipped below 4,000 intraday and ChiNext fell over 2% early before all three major indexes rallied into the close. At settlement, Shanghai Composite +1.16%, Shenzhen Composite Index +0.19%, ChiNext +0.54%. Turnover on Shanghai and Shenzhen exceeded 3.5 trillion yuan. Innovative-drug names led gains, with multiple small-cap drug stocks hitting the 20% daily limit. Liquor, animal-husbandry, medical-service and precious-metal sectors outperformed; semiconductors were intermittently active and industrial-gas stocks strengthened in the afternoon with several limit-ups. Compute-hardware concepts plunged; glass/fiberglass, energy-equipment, shipping and copper-clad-laminate sectors were among the heaviest decliners. Market breadth was positive with over 2,400 stocks rising.

Reportedly, the Israeli government has approved an extension of the "Rear Special Status".