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China's Retail Sales Rebound 1% in June

China's retail sales of consumer goods grew 1% year over year to 4.269 trillion yuan in June, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics released Wednesday.The latest print rebounded from a 0.6% contraction recorded in the previous month, defying the consensus forecast for a 0.1% decline tracked by Investing.com.Sales in urban areas rose 0.8% year over year to 3.684 trillion yuan, while rural retail sales edged up 2.1% to 584.7 billion yuan.For the first six months of the year, retail sales in China rose 1.3% year over year to 24.87 trillion yuan.

China's Real Estate Investment Slumps 18% in H1

Property investment in China fell 18% year over year during the first six months of the year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics released Wednesday.The pace of drop was sharper than the 16.2% decline recorded in the previous five-month period.Total construction area of real estate companies declined 12.5% in the first half to 554 million square meters, while new construction starts plummeted 23.4% to 232.4 million square meters.Funds available to property developers tumbled 20.2% from a year earlier to 4.02 trillion yuan.

Advanced Engineered Materials Enters Cooperation Agreement with Swiss Manufacturer

Advanced Engineered Materials (ASX:AEM) entered into a cooperation agreement with Switzerland-based Zürcher Frères, under which Advanced Engineered Materials will be the exclusive supplier of nanoparticle high-purity alumina for Zürcher Frères' zirconia-alumina ceramics production, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.Zirconia-alumina ceramics comprise alumina-toughened zirconia and zirconia-toughened alumina.Its shares fell 2% in recent trading on Wednesday.

ASX:AEM

Survey Shows 60% of New Zealanders Concerned About Impact of Middle East Conflict on Finances, Westpac Says

A survey conducted early this month showed that 60% of New Zealanders are still concerned about the impact of the Middle East conflict on their finances despite lower fuel prices, Westpac NZ on Wednesday said.In April, 76% of New Zealanders had expressed the same concern, the bank said.The July 7 survey of 535 people on research platform Ideally also showed that 19% of New Zealanders were "very concerned." A further 41% still had some level of concern, and 5% said they had no concerns at all.In addition, 44% of respondents were driving less to offset higher costs, 31% had changed how they shop for groceries, and 25% had deferred planned large purchases.Businesses exposed to high prices, including in the transport, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors, still reported tough conditions, said Reuben Tucker, managing director of institutional and business banking at Westpac NZ.

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Lindian Resources Says ANSTO Completes Test Work Program on Malawi Project Monazite Concentrate

Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) said the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) completed the downstream hydrometallurgical test work program on monazite concentrate from its Kangankunde project in Malawi, validating the complete sulfuric acid bake flowsheet, according to a Wednesday filing with the Australian bourse.The program confirmed high metallurgical performance, achieving 98% neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) extraction and 96% total rare earths plus yttrium extraction in the largest acid bake test of the program, surpassing previous results, the filing said.Additionally, 96% overall NdPr recovery was achieved from concentrate to final mixed rare earth carbonate, with impurity removal losses around 1.1%, per the filing.Shares fell 1% in midday trade on Wednesday.

ASX:LIN

China's Industrial Production Growth Quickens to 5.3% in June

China's industrial production grew by 5.3% year over year in June, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics released on Wednesday.The reading was higher than the 4.5% expansion recorded in the previous month. It beat the consensus forecast of a 4.7% growth tracked by Investing.com.By sector, manufacturing output edged up 6%, mining declined 2.2%, and the production and supply of electricity, thermal power, gas, and water climbed 7.4%.On a month-over-month basis, industrial output rose by 0.76%.For the first six months of the year, industrial output rose 5.4% year over year.

JCET Expects Up to 102% Rise in H1 Profit

JCET Group (SHA:600584) forecasts first-half attributable net profit of between 770 million yuan and 950 million yuan, compared with 471 million yuan the previous year.The 63% to 102% rise is attributed to growing demand for AI-related infrastructure, improved product mix, and enhanced cost controls, according to a Wednesday filing with the Shanghai bourse.Shares of the semiconductor company were down 6% in recent trade.

SHA:600584

Wanhua Chemical's Hungarian Subsidiary Shuts Down Production Facilities for Maintenance

Wanhua Chemical's (SHA:600309) Hungarian subsidiary, BorsodChem, will shut down its MDI and TDI production facilities to conduct its annual maintenance work, according to a Shanghai bourse filing on Wednesday.The maintenance is expected to run for 35 days.The chemical manufacturer's shares slipped 1% during the morning trade.

SHA:600309

China's Urban Unemployment Rate Shrinks to 5% in June

China's surveyed urban unemployment rate fell to 5% in June from 5.1% in May, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.The reading was also lower than the consensus forecast of 5.1% tracked by Investing.com.The surveyed unemployment rate in 31 major cities stood at 5%, falling from 5.1% the prior month.Meanwhile, the average working hours per employee in June were 48.2 hours per week, unchanged from the previous month.

China's Fixed Asset Investment Contracts 5.7% in H1

China's fixed asset investments fell 5.7% year over year in the first half of 2026 to 22.64 trillion yuan, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics released Wednesday.The reading was sharper than the 4.1% contraction recorded in the January-May period. It was also worse than the consensus forecast of a 5% contraction tracked by Investing.com.Investment in infrastructure declined 2.4% year over year, while manufacturing sector investment fell 1.2%. Spending in the utilities sector likewise dropped 2.7%.

China's GDP Growth Slows to 4.3% in Q2

China's gross domestic product expanded 4.3% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.The headline reading missed the consensus market forecast of a 4.5% growth tracked by Investing.com, and compared with the 5% expansion recorded in the preceding quarter.This brings year-to-date growth to 4.7%, falling short of Beijing's full-year growth target range of 4.5% to 5%.On a quarter-over-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the world's second-largest economy grew 0.9% in Q2, decelerating from the 1.3% growth registered in the prior three-month period.

Starpharma Holdings to Raise AU$32 Million Via Entitlement Offer; Shares Down 3%

Starpharma Holdings (ASX:SPL) will issue about 56 million new shares at a price of AU$0.57 each under a fully underwritten pro rata entitlement offer to raise gross proceeds of about AU$32 million, according to a Wednesday filing with the Australian bourse.The new shares will be offered on a 1-for-7.5 pro rata basis to eligible shareholders of record as of July 20, per the filing.Proceeds from the offer will support the development of the company's oncology assets and extend its cash runway into fiscal 2028.Starpharma shares fell 3% in recent Wednesday trade.

ASX:SPL

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NZX Midday Sector Update: Consumer Services Stocks Rise, Producer Manufacturing Sector Struggles

Consumer services stocks advanced over 0.7% on midday trade on Wednesday.SkyCity Entertainment Group (NZE:SKC, ASX:SKC) gained almost 2% in recent trade.Meanwhile, shares of the producer manufacturing sector fell nearly 1.3%.Skellerup Holdings (NZE:SKL) drove the decline, with shares dropping over 1%.

Update: Rio Tinto Group Reports Lower Q2 Copper Production; Reaffirms 2026 Targets

(Updates to add stock movement in the fourth paragraph)Rio Tinto Group (ASX:RIO) reported a 7% year-over-year decline in the second-quarter consolidated copper production to 213,000 tonnes, while global iron ore production fell 1% to 87.1 million tonnes, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.The company said iron ore production at its Pilbara operations during the period remained flat year over year at 83.5 million tonnes, while Pilbara iron ore sales rose 7% to 85.3 million tonnes.The company maintained its 2026 Pilbara iron ore sales guidance at 323 million to 338 million tonnes. It also reaffirmed its consolidated copper production guidance of 800,000 to 870,000 tonnes and global iron sales outlook of 343 million to 366 million tonnes.The company's shares rose past 1% in recent Wednesday trade.

ASX:RIO

China Sees Mixed Open as Iran Tensions Escalate, Beijing Sets 2030 Consumption Goal

Chinese shares opened mixed on Wednesday amid the accelerating collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and China setting an about 60-trillion-yuan retail sales target by 2030.The Shanghai Composite Index, the main gauge of Chinese stocks, opened 0.1% lower at 3,963.73. The Shenzhen Component Index climbed 0.3% to 14,970.87.The U.S. reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports early Wednesday over Tehran's attacks on Hormuz Strait shipping, drawing retaliatory strikes against countries hosting American troops and accelerating the collapse of an interim ceasefire, the Associated Press reported.China has set a target to boost total retail sales of consumer goods to about 60 trillion yuan by 2030, reinforcing consumption as a primary growth engine during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The State Council-backed strategy targets a higher consumption-to-GDP ratio, faster growth in goods and services spending, structural upgrades, stronger supply, and a significantly better consumer environment.

Update: Alcoa Advances Western Australia Gallium Plant With Final Investment Decision

(Updates to add stock movement in the last paragraph)Alcoa (ASX:AAI), together with the governments of Australia, Japan, and the US, reached a final investment decision to build a gallium production plant at Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, according to a Wednesday statement from the company.The company said it will build and operate the facility, establishing a new source of gallium to diversify global supply chains and enhance critical mineral security.Construction is set to begin once final site preparations are complete, the company said.The company added that the project is not expected to have a material impact on its financial position or operating performance.The company's shares fell around 2% in recent Wednesday trade.

ASX:AAI

Singapore Shares Open Higher on Soft US Inflation Data

Singapore shares opened on a positive note on Wednesday, driven by less-than-expected US inflation, leading to reduced expectations of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates.The Straits Times Index opened up 0.3%, or by 17.61 points, at 5513.22.The sentiment was led by gains recorded on Wall Street overnight on the back of softer June inflation and growing interest in AI tech shares. The inflation data could give the Federal Reserve more room to keep the interest rates unchanged.Investors, however, will be cautiously eyeing the geopolitical developments, especially in the Middle East.

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China Jushi Projects Up to 85% Rise in H1 Profit

China Jushi (SHA:600176) forecasted first-half attributable net profit of between 2.78 billion yuan and 3.12 billion yuan, compared with 1.69 billion yuan the previous year.The 65% to 85% jump is attributed to rising demand in major fiberglass downstream sectors, with higher product prices and sales volumes, according to a Tuesday filing with the Shanghai bourse.

SHA:600176