International strife in the Strait of Hormuz drives oil prices higher. The U.K. government calls the seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker by Iranian commandos ‘an illegal act’. Chinese technology stocks soar on their first day of trading on the STAR market, Shanghai’s new exchange is aimed at rivalling the Nasdaq. In Japan, the ruling bloc falls shy of a super-majority in Upper House elections. The result could hamper Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s push for constitutional reform. And there are chaotic scenes in Hong Kong with pro-democracy demonstrators clashing with authorities during the seventh consecutive weekend of violence in the territory.  

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