South African government said July gasoline retail prices will be cut by up to 2.01 rand per litre; July diesel wholesale prices will be cut by up to 3.59 rand per litre.

Hang Seng Index closed down 0.63% at 22,881.02 after an intraday drop of more than 300 points; the Hang Seng Tech Index outperformed, rising 1.80% to 4,472.23. Hong Kong turnover was HKD 308.05 bln, down from HKD 315.38 bln in the prior session. Optical-communications and semiconductor sectors led gains; robotics strengthened in the afternoon while innovative drugs, consumer, precious metals and oil & gas underperformed. Notable movers: new listing True Health Medical (02697.HK) +216.96%, Xunlong Technology (06715.HK) +50.99%; Dida Chuxing (02559.HK) +88.19%; Haiguang Xinzheng (01191.HK) +16.24%; Yangtze Optical Fibre & Cable (06869.HK) +6.68%; SMIC (00981.HK) +5.42%; UBTECH (09880.HK) +7.48%; Want Want China (00151.HK) -12.85% after results.

On June 29 US permanent representative to NATO Whitaker said the US has received more than $6 bln through the US- and NATO-proposed "Ukraine Priority Needs List" mechanism and plans to continue advancing it. The mechanism, funded by non-US NATO members, buys or transfers existing US weapons for rapid delivery of large volumes to Ukraine and, according to US officials, lets willing NATO donors bypass lengthy US arms-sale procedures to speed procurement. Russia has repeatedly said Western arms shipments impede a peaceful resolution and warned weapons sent to Ukraine would be lawful targets for Russian forces.