Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong said the group plans to site battery investment in Ulsan and a substrate project in Busan, South Korea.

RBA deputy governor Kent said a review of alternative monetary tools leaves the central bank better able to respond to future shocks. He said the cash rate target remains the primary instrument, while other tools can provide additional support in exceptional periods but are more complex and carry greater risks. Kent referenced the MPC’s newly released framework for supplementary tools in a low-rate environment and said the Committee may be less tolerant of inflation undershooting the 2%–3% target range when rates are low. He added that, in that scenario, the bank could consider lowering the cash rate target earlier and more decisively to counter deflationary shocks.

After a >1,200-point drop last week, the Hang Seng opened higher and rallied to reclaim the 23,000 level, rising about 400 points intraday. At the midday close the Hang Seng Index was up 2.12% at 23,153.43 and the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 3.68% to 4,412.23; market turnover was HKD172.93 billion. Healthcare led gains, with innovative-drug names strongest; internet and gaming stocks also outperformed. Electronic components and optical-communications names lagged. Notable movers: White Dove Online (02672.HK) +317.95% (midday), Yaojie Ankang-B (02617.HK) +39.56%, Hengrui Medicine (01276.HK) +7.84%; Lenovo Group (00992.HK) -9.64%, Yangtze Optical Fibre & Cable (06869.HK) -8.22%.