The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

2133 ET - Thailand's food production costs are expected to rise amid the Middle East conflict, Maybank Securities (Thailand)'s Tanida Jirapornkasemsuk writes in a research report. Higher oil prices are pushing up fertilizer costs amid trade bottlenecks. This could increase agricultural prices which are already expect to rise on expectations of a drought due to El Niño in 2H, the analyst says. Food companies' gross profit margin could also been pressured from 2Q if the conflict continues longer-than-expected. Maybank maintains a neutral rating on Thailand's food and beverage sector, and pegs i-Tail Corp. as its top pick.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)

2130 ET - CK Infrastructure's HK$45 billion divestment proceeds are expected before the end of 1H, positioning the conglomerate for potential M&A activity, Citigroup analyst Pierre Lau says in a note. The bank expects that if no sizable acquisitions occur in the next 12-18 months, CK Infrastructure may distribute the proceeds as special dividends. Citi maintains its buy rating on the stock and raises its target price to HK$73.50 from HK$62.50. The stock last closed at HK$64.85. (venkat.pr@wsj.com)

2129 ET - Top Glove is expected to see its core net profit weaken on-quarter in fiscal 3Q, as average selling price hikes only take effect in April while higher input costs are felt earlier, CIMB Securities analyst Chun Sung Oong says in a note. He notes that the glove maker has begun issuing price increase notices to offset rising synthetic rubber costs and a weaker ringgit, with planned hikes of $7-$9 per 1,000 pieces. Some customers may temporarily switch to cheaper natural latex gloves, he adds. CIMB cuts Top Glove's target price to 0.63 ringgit from 0.68 ringgit, while maintaining a hold rating on the stock, as its current valuation has largely priced in a potential earnings recovery. Shares are 0.9% lower at 0.57 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

2128 ET - Top Glove could benefit from short-term disruptions in synthetic rubber markets caused by the Middle East conflict, Maybank IB analyst Wong Wei Sum says in a note. That is because it can produce both nitrile and natural rubber gloves, offering alternatives for price-sensitive customers, she says. Management is confident of passing on higher nitrile latex costs thanks to inelastic demand and low inventory levels, she notes. Recent gains in nitrile latex prices and supply disruptions may trigger mixed responses among clients, including panic buying, temporary order delays and switches to natural rubber gloves, she says. However, overall demand is expected to remain resilient, supported by tight inventory levels across the supply chain, she adds. Maybank maintains a hold rating on Top Glove and keeps its target price at 0.62 ringgit. Shares are 1.7% lower at 0.56 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

2118 ET - Scrap-metals recycler Sims has continued to improve its earnings capacity thanks to cost control, improvements in its North America business and increased recycling of used data-center equipment, says Jarden. It upgrades the stock to neutral from underweight. Jarden raises its target on Sims to A$21.50 from A$19.50. "We would become more positive with greater evidence of through-cycle margin durability in Metals and improved visibility on sustainable earnings power in SLS," its e-waste and data-center services arm, Jarden says. Shares are up 5.2% at A$21.76.(rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2117 ET - China Resources Power still offers attractive yield despite near-term challenges, says Deutsche Bank's Gary Zhou in a note. The Chinese utilities company's 2025 full-year dividend beat consensus estimates, offering a payout ratio of around 40%. While the company faces near-term headwinds from lower market-based tariffs for thermal and renewable power this year, the 2025 dividend yield of 6.0% and estimated 2026 yield of 5.7% are among the highest among Chinese utilities, he says. "Over the long run, we believe the company, with a balanced fuel type portfolio, should benefit from growing AI-related power demand in China," he adds. DB maintains its buy rating and HK$23.00 target price. Shares last closed at HK$19.44.(megan.cheah@wsj.com)

2059 ET - Miner 29Metals gains a bull in Morgans, which initiates coverage of the stock with a buy rating. The broker says it views 29Metals "as a compelling turnaround and growth story leveraged to what we see as a strong long-term copper market." At the Golden Grove mine, Morgans expect a restart of Xantho Extended and the development of Gossan Valley improve operational flexibility. At Capricorn Copper, progress toward a restart provides points to medium-term production growth that could diversify earnings, Morgans says. It puts a A$0.54/share target on the stock. Shares are down 9.5% at A$0.335. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2042 ET - S-Oil could benefit from higher oil prices driven by the Iran war and stronger refining margins, Yuanta Securities Korea's Hwang Kyu-won and Seo Seok-jun say. The Saudi Aramco-controlled South Korean refiner could post an operating profit of 2.5 trillion won in 1H 2026, following a loss in the same period a year earlier, the analysts write in a note. About 44% of the projected profit could come from its refining unit, with the average global oil price expected to rise to $83 in 2026 from $69 last year, they say. They expect S-Oil's refining margin to widen to $10.1 per barrel this year from $4.8 in 2025. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

2038 ET - BHP's appointment of Brandon Craig as CEO is low risk and appears to broadly favor the status quo, say CreditSights analysts Wen Li and Shreyas Nampoothiri. "It supports the base case of consistent operational performance and capital discipline, but leaves open the key debate around capital allocation, specifically whether BHP will maintain its conservative stance or eventually pursue larger, more transformative M&A, in line with peers," the analysts say. For now, they expect a continued focus on organic growth over a step-up in M&A activity. BHP is down 2.9% at A$48.62. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2031 ET - Flight Centre's bull at Citi thinks that its share price fall since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran looks larger than the impact of the conflict on its business. Shares in the Australian travel agent have lost about 10% of their value this month, but analyst Samuel Seow estimates that only 2% to 4% of the group's full-year total transaction value would be affected across the whole of March. He tells clients in a note that there are too many variables to consider to be confident about a precise number, but nonetheless believes that the current impact is less than the share-price fall. Citi has a buy rating and A$16.75 target price on the stock, which is down 2.1% at A$11.58. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

2016 ET - Ansell's FY 2027 margins could be hit by rising raw material costs stemming from the disruption of global oil supplies, Citi analyst Laura Sutcliffe warns. She acknowledges that the personal-protective equipment maker has shown recently it can successfully pass costs onto its customers but still thinks that input costs could have an impact. She tells clients in a note that the consensus forecast is for Ansell's FY 2027 Ebit margin to expand by 20 bps over FY 2026. Sutcliffe observes that one of Ansell's rivals has flagged nitrile latex availability issues. Nitrile latex is a key glove ingredient and represents 20%-25% of Ansell's raw material costs, she adds. Ansell has a neutral rating and A$35.00 target price on Ansell's stock, which is down 3.9% at A$28.59. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

2013 ET - Japanese stocks are broadly lower after new attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the Middle East renew concerns about higher energy prices. Metals and chip stocks are leading declines. Sumitomo Metal Mining is down 6.0% and Advantest is 4.7% lower. The dollar is at 159.77 yen, up from Y158.60 as of Wednesday's Tokyo stock market close, after the Fed held rates steady overnight. Investors are closely watching developments in the Middle East. Also in focus are the Japanese government's responses to the conflict and shortages of energy and petrochemical products. The Nikkei Stock Average is down 2.5% at 53872.03. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 18, 2026 21:33 ET (01:33 GMT)

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