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Investment bank Stifel raised its price target for Micron Technology (MU.O) from $550 to $1,500.

June 18 - Ship tracking data from an international shipping information platform showed that three Saudi-flagged oil tankers carrying a total of 6 million barrels of crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 18th.

On June 18th, it was reported that on June 17th, the General Office of the Anhui Provincial People's Government officially issued the "Anhui Province 'Low Altitude+' Application Scenarios Expansion Project Action Plan (2026-2028)," clarifying the province's three-year work goals, key tasks, and promotion measures for the low-altitude economy. According to the plan, by 2028, Anhui Province aims to achieve 5 million hours of annual low-altitude flight time, gather over 300 low-altitude operation companies, and cumulatively build 100 low-altitude application demonstration scenarios, forming a development model that is safe, commercially sustainable, and easily accepted by the public.

On June 18th, the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the "Several Policy Measures of Sichuan Province to Support Green and Low-Carbon Development." Among them, it proposes to support interest subsidies for equipment renewal loans. For eligible equipment renewal loans, in addition to the central government's 1.5 percentage point interest subsidy, extra interest subsidies will be provided through ultra-long-term special treasury bonds as stipulated. For eligible "technological upgrading loans" and "equipment renewal loans," a provincial government interest subsidy of 1.5% per annum will be provided for a period not exceeding one year. Multiple technological upgrading or equipment renewal loans implemented by a single enterprise can be consolidated and submitted together, with a maximum annual provincial government interest subsidy of 5 million yuan per enterprise. Banks are encouraged to proactively apply for interest subsidy funds and promptly disburse them to enterprises, reducing their financing costs for equipment renewal.

On June 18, the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the "Several Policy Measures of Sichuan Province to Support Green and Low-Carbon Development." The measures propose guiding financial institutions to launch green and low-carbon transformation financial products and services. Focusing on 10 industries, including steel, coal power, building materials, ceramics, textiles, petrochemicals, chemicals, aluminum, water transportation, and agriculture, diversified financial services and policy support will be provided to entities financing transformation. Cities and prefectures with suitable conditions are encouraged to expand the coverage of green finance fiscal-financial interaction policies and provide fiscal subsidies for transformation financial activities. The progress of financial institutions' transformation finance activities will be included in the People's Bank of China's green finance assessment.

On June 18th, the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the "Several Policy Measures of Sichuan Province to Support Green and Low-Carbon Development." Among them, it proposes to implement incentives for the clean utilization of coal. Support will be provided for projects involving efficient and clean coal utilization, large-scale extraction and utilization of coalbed methane (mine gas), utilization of ultra-low concentration methane (below 8%), utilization of waste heat and pressure, industrialization of coal-based clean fuels and high-end materials, resource utilization and near-zero emission projects of bulk solid waste in mining areas, and smart energy management and new energy coupling construction projects in mining areas. Provincial budgetary basic construction investment will provide subsidies to eligible projects at a rate not exceeding 30% of the total investment of a single project, with a maximum subsidy of 20 million yuan per project.

On June 18, the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued the "Several Policy Measures of Sichuan Province to Support Green and Low-Carbon Development." Among them, it proposes to implement incentives for energy-saving, carbon-reducing, and efficiency-enhancing transformations. Support will be provided for key industry enterprises to implement energy-saving and carbon-reducing upgrades, key energy-consuming units and industrial parks to improve comprehensive energy efficiency through energy cascade utilization and energy system optimization, and clean production transformation of centralized heating and combined heat and power plants in industrial parks. Provincial budgetary basic construction investment will provide subsidies to eligible projects at a rate not exceeding 15% of the total investment of a single project, with a maximum subsidy of 20 million yuan per project.

The yield on Italian 2-year government bonds rose 6 basis points to 2.8221%.

The China Earthquake Networks Center officially measured a 3.1-magnitude earthquake at 18:09 on June 18 in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province (37.87 degrees north latitude, 95.53 degrees east longitude), with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.

On June 18th, a meeting to promote the joint construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center by the central and local governments was held in Guangzhou. Huang Kunming, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, pointed out that seizing the historical opportunity for the development of artificial intelligence is crucial. The Greater Bay Area possesses relatively advanced mechatronics and artificial intelligence technologies, providing favorable conditions and ample space for accelerating the development of artificial intelligence. Guangdong will adhere to a comprehensive approach, focusing on data, computing power, algorithms, and applications, emphasizing application-driven development. It will leverage the rich scenarios within the Greater Bay Area to cultivate native technologies, products, and service systems, further strengthen key industrial platforms, continuously solidify the foundation of intelligent computing power, and strive to build a global leader in artificial intelligence industry innovation.

June 18th - Morgan Stanley's Bruna Skarica stated in a report that despite the rising probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike, the Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.75% in the coming months. Thursday's UK employment data showed a fragile labor market, reducing the need for the Bank of England to raise interest rates to combat inflation. "We believe that in the near term, the Bank of England is fully capable of maintaining its tightening bias and continuing to keep interest rates unchanged."

According to Marine Traffic: French liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers have sailed out of the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hergsays: The Iran deal stems from the United States’ strength and status.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hergsays: Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.

According to the Wall Street Journal, gasoline prices in the United States have fallen below $4.

On June 18th, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (01093.HK) announced in Hong Kong that its long-acting octreotide injection (SYHX2008) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical trials in the United States. Octreotide is a first-line drug for the treatment of acromegaly and gastrointestinal pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Currently, the product has entered Phase III clinical trials in China.

On June 18, Xiaomi Corporation (01810.HK) announced in Hong Kong that, as part of the HK$20 billion share repurchase plan disclosed in the announcement dated May 26, 2026, the company entered into an agreement with an independent brokerage firm, pursuant to which the brokerage firm will repurchase no more than HK$4 billion of the company's Class B ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in accordance with the predetermined parameters set out in the brokerage agreement.

Kremlin aide: The new attack by Ukraine on Russia has not brought the two presidents closer personally.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is pushing for a new diet plan that revolves around consuming large amounts of sauerkraut.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: If Ukraine is engulfed in war, Moscow will also be doomed.