The latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

0612 GMT - Trimegah Bangun Persada's Phase-2 and -3 capacity expansions at its associate Karunia Permai Sentosa are poised to drive growth, UOB Kay Hian's Benjamin Mikael says in a research report. Phase-2 expansion of 60,000 tons is slated to start production by end-2025 followed by Phase-3 expansion of 65,000 tons in 1Q 2026, the analyst notes. When completed, the Indonesian nickel producer's total ferronickel production capacity will reach 305,000 tons a year. The brokerage forecasts the company's net profit to grow 36.2% in 2025 and 27.0% in 2026, driven by strong production. It raises the stock's target price to IDR1,200.00 from IDR870.00 with an unchanged buy rating. Shares last closed at IDR965.00. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0240 GMT - Indonesia's metal mining sector is poised for double-digit earnings growth in 2025-2026, Bahana Sekuritas analyst Jeremy Mikael says in a research report. The brokerage upgrades the sector's rating to overweight from neutral, citing stabilizing nickel prices, strong nickel ore premiums and company-specific catalysts. Industry growth is expected to be supported by cost-efficiency programs, increased stakes in joint ventures, monetization of nickel ore assets and exposure to a favorable gold price environment. Bahana Sekuritas upgrades Vale Indonesia's rating to buy from hold and raises its target price to IDR4,800.00 from IDR3,400.00. It also lifts target prices for Aneka Tambang and Merdeka Copper Gold to IDR3,700.00 from IDR3,000.00 and to IDR2,800.00 from IDR2,400.00, respectively, with buy ratings for both. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0039 GMT - BlueScope's write-down of its U.S. coated-products business is "a recognition that there's no quick fix here," says Citi analyst Paul McTaggart. He views BlueScope's FY earnings result as broadly neutral to modestly negative for its shares. Ebit is largely in line, McTaggart says. BlueScope also notes "it is seeing signs of recovery in Australian construction and improving spreads in the U.S., with 1H FY26 expected to be an improvement on 2H FY25," he says. Citi has a neutral rating and A$25.00 target on BlueScope. The stock is down 2.3% at A$23.69. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2340 GMT - BlueScope's FY 2H Ebit of A$429 million is at the top end of the steelmaker's A$360 million-A$430 million guidance, but below market expectations of A$455 million, Jefferies analyst say in a note. The midpoint of its 1H FY 2026 guidance--of A$550 million to A$620 million--is also below market expectations around A$618 million, the analysts say. They expect the stock to fall as a result. Jefferies has a buy rating and A$29.00 target on BlueScope. The stock ended Friday at A$24.24. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 18, 2025 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)

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