Bank of Japan June policy meeting minutes: one member said Japan's neutral rate is likely around 2% and that the BOJ would need to raise policy rates roughly every few months.

Foxconn Technology Group and Sharp signed a strategic cooperation memorandum to establish a joint R&D and commercialization framework targeting new businesses in AI infrastructure, energy and ESG, robotics and intelligent automation, next‑generation communications and smart cities.

After Wednesday's CPI release, Westpac kept its forecast that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will raise rates in August. Westpac said May headline CPI undershot expectations mainly due to falls in travel, clothing and recreation prices that are largely seasonal, and this does not change its view that underlying inflationary pressure is intensifying. The bank said May data more strongly signals a widening second‑round effect from Middle East supply shocks: rising costs for fuel, transport, plastics and chemical inputs are transmitting beyond energy‑related goods. Westpac warned wage‑cost pressure in H2 2026 could further lift inflation, especially in market‑based services. Policy supports, including fuel excise relief, are expected to be withdrawn gradually over coming months, keeping inflation risks alive beyond the August monetary policy meeting.