Bank of Japan board member Sato Ayano said cooling in the Middle East is a positive development, but the economic outlook remains uncertain.

China’s A-share market closed the first half with the ChiNext Index at a record high. At the close the Shanghai Composite was up 0.5%, the Shenzhen Composite up 2.48% and the ChiNext Index up 2.99%. YTD returns: ChiNext +35.77% (record), Shenzhen Composite +19.94%, Shanghai Composite +3.16%. Tech names led: Lianxun Instruments closed at 2,322.33 yuan, up over 2,700% since its IPO three months ago; Yuanjie Technology +326.02% YTD; Cambricon +>75% YTD, entering the trillion-yuan market‑cap club; Zhongji Xuchuang ~+110% YTD.

Politico: The U.S. House Rules Committee on Monday evening approved a procedural measure to schedule the GOP's $1.1 trillion defense policy bill, government funding/appropriations bills and other Republican measures for debate on the House floor.