Sources say the U.S. and Iran are discussing a phased agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade.

Several leading German economic research institutes said they have more than doubled their joint growth forecast after the economy outperformed in 1H. They now expect GDP to rise 1.3% in 2026, up from a spring forecast of 0.6%. They lifted the next-year forecast from 0.9% to 1.1% and see growth slowing to 0.4% in 2028. Outperformance in 1H was driven by exports, manufacturing and substantial public spending; strong global demand and an AI-driven boost offset weak investment and consumption. The institutes expect the recovery to continue into 2027 supported by consumption and housing, but to lose momentum in 2028 as a shrinking labour force and weaker potential growth increasingly constrain output.

英國央行副行長布里登：能源價格下降的路徑完全並不明確。