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France's preliminary manufacturing PMI for August came in at 51.5, the highest in four months.

ECB Governing Council member Kazak: The ECB has the ability to take action if necessary to keep inflation below 2%.

ECB Governing Council member Kazak: Further interest rate hikes have both advantages and disadvantages. We will make a decision in September based on the data.

ECB Governing Council member Kazak: We are seeing a gradual slowdown in wage growth.

ECB Governing Council member Kazak: In times of uncertainty, forward guidance is counterproductive.

ECB Governing Council member Kazak: Inflation expectations remain close to target.

France's preliminary composite PMI for August was 48.8, below the expected 49.5 and the previous reading of 49.4.

France's preliminary services PMI for August was 48.4, below the expected 49.8 and the previous reading of 49.6.

France's preliminary manufacturing PMI for August was 51.5, below the expected 50 and the previous reading of 49.8.

The Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ) reported that Japan's semiconductor manufacturing equipment bills increased by 35.4% year-on-year in July.

The local governor said industrial facilities in Russia’s Perm region were damaged after a Ukrainian drone attack.

France’s preliminary manufacturing PMI for August will be released in ten minutes.

According to Nikkei, Japan's Ministry of Finance is considering setting the assumed interest rate for calculating debt repayment costs at 3.8% in its budget request for fiscal year 2027/28.

The UK FTSE 100 index opened 2.37 points higher, or 0.02%, at 10750.53 on Friday, August 21st; the FCHI index opened 7.47 points lower, or 0.09%, at 8445.62 on Friday, August 21st; the Euro Stoxx 50 index opened 7.89 points higher, or 0.12%, at 6429.95 on Friday, August 21st; and the Spanish... The IBEX 35 index in Portugal opened 47.45 points higher, or 0.24%, at 19,865.45 on Friday, August 21; the FTSE MIB index in Italy opened 39.18 points higher, or 0.07%, at 52,705.00 on Friday, August 21; and the DAX 30 index in Germany opened 2.47 points higher, or 0.01%, at 26,014.02 on Friday, August 21.

At midday closing, most domestic futures contracts rose, with container shipping to Europe up over 11%, lithium carbonate, silver, and platinum up over 4%, pulp up over 3%, and methanol up nearly 3%. On the downside, rapeseed fell over 2%, while rapeseed meal, rapeseed oil, apples, soybean meal, red dates, and stainless steel (SS) fell over 1%.

Hong Kong-listed MINIMAX-W and its two leading model stocks saw short-term rallies, with Zhipu (02513.HK) rising over 11% and MINIMAX-W (00100.HK) rising over 14%.

The NI225 closed down 200.43 points, or 0.30%, at 66,016.36 on Friday, August 21.

Hong Kong stocks rose in the afternoon, with the Hang Seng Tech Index up 1% and the Hang Seng Index up 0.93%. MINIMAX-W (00100.HK) led the gains among constituent stocks, rising 11.7%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 29.00 points, or 0.32%, at 9054.80 on Friday, August 21.

In a phone call, the foreign ministers of Iraq and Switzerland emphasized the importance of launching international initiatives to help end the conflict and bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table.