China's pig market has staged a short-term rebound: the national average price for crossbred live hogs rose from 9.47 yuan/kg on June 26 to 11.06 yuan/kg on July 6, a 10-day consecutive gain of 1.59 yuan/kg (+16.8%), returning above 10 yuan/kg after roughly four months. Discounted prices for culled sows fell sharply. Authorities have again intensified calls to accelerate herd reduction. Market participants are debating whether the cycle has reached a 'super bottom' and the related investment opp

At midday close, China equity index futures: CSI 300 (IF) main contract down 0.34%; SSE 50 (IH) main contract up 0.37%; CSI 500 (IC) down 1.16%; CSI 1000 (IM) down 1.60%.

Asia's loan market showed no rebound entering H2, with APAC excluding Japan loan issuance in USD, EUR and JPY down 15% YoY to $69.0 billion in H1 — the weakest first half in 16 years. Bankers say spillovers from the Iran war have delayed investment and deal activity and prompted tighter lender risk reviews, lengthening financing timelines. These headwinds could persist through the rest of the year, and competition may compress some loan spreads. BARCLAYS' head of Asia loan syndicate Andrew Ashman said: "With rising uncertainty, corporate confidence has weakened," adding that an expected M&A-driven pickup in loan volume has not materialised and geopolitical tensions may continue to affect future new loan activity.