The latest Market Talks covering the Auto and Transport sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

1511 GMT - With U.S. diesel prices hitting new all-time highs above $6 a gallon, "many independent truckers are likely being forced to sideline rigs temporarily until prices drop back down to around $4 or below," Ritterbusch & Associates says in a note. That's even with some ability to pass on the increased costs to final goods, which bodes ill for inflation down the road, the firm says. "Diesel will remain as the strongest part of the energy complex as long as Hormuz remains clogged." The AAA reports the average U.S. diesel price at a record $6.0556 a gallon. Nymex diesel futures are off 0.7% at $5.0265 a gallon while WTI crude retreats 2.9% after an eight-session rally. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

0912 GMT - Norsk Hydro's fourth-quarter Ebitda faces risks from disrupted natural-gas supply and cost uncertainty, J.P. Morgan analysts write. The Iran-U.S. conflict continues to impact the aluminum industry, after Norsk Hydro announced in August that disruptions to natural-gas supply at its Alunorte alumina refinery led to a temporary curtailment. That led management to implement contingency measures including purchasing natural-gas volumes at spot prices. While the impact on third-quarter earnings is material on its own, the bank remains concerned regarding the potential impact if Norsk Hydro needs to secure additional spot liquefied natural gas volumes into the fourth quarter. The bank downgrades Norsk Hydro stock to neutral from overweight and lowers its price target to 97 Norwegian kroner from 116 kroner. Shares fall 2% to 89.14 kroner. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0803 GMT - South Korean automaker Kia could pay higher-than-expected dividends this year, say Daishin Securities' Kim Gwi-yeon and Park Seo-young. The analysts expect the company's 2026 dividend to total 7,500 won a share, compared with its earlier guidance of more than 5,000 won a share. Its dividends totaled 6,800 won a share in 2025. Kia is maintaining solid sales momentum, driven by hybrid vehicles in the U.S. and battery-electric vehicles in Europe, despite challenges from higher tariffs and the war in Iran. The carmaker's operating profit margin is expected to come in at 8.1% this year, up from 8.0% last year, they add. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0756 GMT - Oil prices slip in early trading, but are still headed for weekly gains of 10% after climbing back above $100 a barrel. "Oil's resilience reflects a market now repricing both the duration and severity of the conflict, along with a clearer recognition of the mounting threat to regional supply," analysts at ING say. Meanwhile, "Saudi energy infrastructure and crude oil exports from the Red Sea are increasingly at risk, with the Houthis in Yemen targeting Saudi Arabia." In early European trading, Brent crude is down 1.5% to $105.96 a barrel, while WTI futures fall 1.4% to $101.02 a barrel. According to the Financial Times, Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart on Monday, as Oman and Iran seek regional backing for a temporary agreement to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0744 GMT - Alstom's 1.2 billion-euro U.K. order for battery-electric trains points to healthy demand trends that are recovering in the second quarter of fiscal 2027 as the company had predicted, analysts at J.P. Morgan say in a research note. The French train maker is expected to report second-quarter orders of at least 6.7 billion euros, ahead of current consensus expectations of 5.46 billion euros, according to JPM. "The development is also important as it confirms a healthy level of demand, which is a key pillar of our investment case, and highlights that quarterly order intake at Alstom is lumpy and that the weak book to bill in [the first quarter] was simply reflecting the timing of large bookings," the analysts say. Shares rise 2.2%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0353 GMT - Hyundai Motor is facing margin pressure from the won's appreciation, as are other South Korean exporters, says Nomura's Angela Hong. For every 1% appreciation in the won against the dollar, the South Korean automaker's operating profit falls 1.5% to 2%, the analyst says. Hong notes that the local currency has appreciated about 13% against the greenback since July 2. She also reduces the fair value of the company's U.S.-based robotics affiliate, Boston Dynamics, to 55 billion won from 115 billion won previously, based on a newly estimated average selling price for Atlas humanoid robots. Nomura cuts its target price for the company's stock to 520,000 won from 600,000 won, while keeping a buy rating. Shares are 2.3% lower at 380,000 won. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0330 GMT - Buana Lintas Lautan may benefit from faster fleet growth and high freight rates, UOB Kay Hian analysts say in a research report. The oil and gas tanker operator's fleet expansion is running ahead of the brokerage's base case with 16 confirmed by 3Q. Also, a floating storage and offloading vessel and a floating production storage and offloading vessel are expected by end-3Q, with five more medium-range tankers in 4Q pipeline, the analysts note. Moreover, a reescalation of the Middle East conflict may keep freight rates elevated. The brokerage raises its target price on the stock to 770.00 rupiah from 750.00 rupiah with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are steady at 422.00 rupiah. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0223 GMT - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' engine production capacity is expected to more than double as a result of increased facility investment, Nomura's Eon Hwang says. The analyst expects the shipbuilder to expand its manufacturing capacity for HiMSEN engines, which can power both ships and electricity-generation facilities, to 7.2 gagawatts by 2030 from 3GW currently. Of the total capacity, 4GW is likely to be dedicated to land-based power-engine production, Hwang says. The company's plan to invest 1.072 trillion won to build production facilities in South Korea for power engines and small modular reactors could prompt an earnings upgrade, he adds. Nomura raises its target price for the company to 560,000 won from 550,000 won, keeping a buy rating on the stock. Shares are 7.1% higher at 485,500 won. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

1804 GMT - August saw the average transaction price for a new vehicle in the U.S. move back above $50,000, to $50,089, according to Kelley Blue Book. It was the first time the ATP topped $50,000 since December. Prices were influenced by a richer mix of midsize SUV sales and higher prices for subcompact SUVs and compact cars, Kelley says. August also saw the ATP for electric vehicles decline to $54,813, 1.2% lower from the prior month and down 2.7% from August 2025.