Trump claimed that there would be no talks with Iran, either currently or in the future, and displayed a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory.”

Trump labeled the Strait of Hormuz as "new U.S. territory," prompting Iranian media to retort that Trump was "delusional." Mediator Qatar stated it is waiting for Iran and Oman to reach an agreement on the strait to facilitate the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations and the reopening of the waterway. Iran claimed that the United States had considered applying the "Venezuela model" against it but failed. U.S. media reported that the United States is considering maintaining a small-scale military presence in the Persian Gulf after the conflict ends.

wallstreetcn00:42

Sinopec (00386) repurchased 499,800 A-shares on August 18 at a cost of approximately RMB 2.5235 million.

Sinopec (00386) announced that on August 18, 2026, it repurchased 499,800 A-shares at a total cost of approximately RMB 2.5235 million.

Zhitong FinanceAug 18 17:11

[HK Stocks] Hang Seng Index closed 17 points lower for the day; Alibaba rose over 3%, supporting the broader market, while Zhipu briefly breached the HK$1,000 mark.

Overnight (on the 17th), the three major U.S. stock indices closed lower by 0.3% to 0.5%, as renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed international oil prices up by more than 2%. This morning (on the 18th), the Hang Seng Index opened 84 points lower, with losses widening to over 200 points at one stage. However, Hong Kong stocks reversed course in the afternoon, with the Hang Seng Index closing slightly higher by 17 points, or 0.07%, at 25,471 points. Total market turnover for the day amounted to HK$255.541 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index closed up 13 points, or 0.16%, at 8,453 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 42 points, or 0.9%, to close at 4,739 points. Alibaba-W (09988.HK) supported the broader market.

AASTOCKSAug 18 16:36

Orient Securities: Global refining capacity is expected to remain tight, while China's refining and chemical sector is poised for a long-term upswing.

Driven by the strong overseas refined oil market, domestic refining and chemical enterprises are poised to enter a prolonged upcycle.

Zhitong FinanceAug 18 15:46

Express News | Xu Kunlin, Secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Governor Wang Xinwei met with Hou Qijun, Chairman of Sinopec.

BreakingsAug 18 13:33

August 17 Buyback Roundup | Tencent and HSBC Holdings, among others, conducted share buybacks, with Tencent spending HK$301 million.

According to documents disclosed by the Hong Kong Exchange on August 18, companies including $Tencent (00700.HK)$ and $HSBC Holdings (00005.HK)$ have repurchased shares. ① $Tencent (00700.HK)$ repurchased 673,000 ordinary shares on August 17, involving an amount of HK$301 million, with a repurchase price per share ranging from HK$442.6 to HK$450. Since the resolution authorizing the buyback was passed, the cumulative number of securities repurchased stands at 36.7457 million shares, representing 0.403% of the issued share capital at the time the ordinary resolution was approved. ② $HSBC Holdings (00005.HK)$

Futu NewsAug 18 09:10