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

0218 GMT - Data on retailer stock intensity and U.S. sales of fast-moving consumer goods support UBS analysts' view that Brambles will report annual revenue at the lower end of guidance. The analysts write in a note that inventory data suggests that Brambles' CHEP pallets business ought to have experienced a slight tailwind during the December half from restocking activity. Brambles' reported volumes for the period were flat, they observe. The analysts add that separate Nielsen data suggests that this soft volume momentum is broadly unchanged into the June half, which rounds out Brambles' 2026 fiscal year. UBS keeps a neutral rating and A$25.40 target price on the stock, which is flat at A$22.61. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

0209 GMT - The disruption of oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, damage to infrastructure in the Middle East, and higher crude price volatility could translate into larger risks for equity valuations, says Bank of Singapore's Eli Lee in a report. That leads Bank of Singapore to cut its asset allocation on Asian equities, excluding Japan, to neutral from overweight. Within the space, Lee continues to favor Hong Kong, China and Singapore. In particular, the chief investment strategist notes that China has accumulated one of the world's largest strategic crude reserves, which buffers it against disrupted exports through the Hormuz Strait. Oil and natural gas also account for only about 4% of China's power mix, significantly lower than the average 40%-50% share of many Asian peers, he adds. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0207 GMT - Tencent is relatively better positioned than its peers in the evolving AI agent landscape, Citi analysts say in a note. Tencent's dominant communication platforms in China--QQ and Weixin--provide a unique ecosystem advantage that allows seamless user management of AI agents, they note. Despite growing concerns about security risks given the surging popularity of OpenClaw in China, the analysts think Tencent's OpenClaw-like AI agent WorkBuddy seems to be a safer solution domestically as it runs within its secure cloud and bypasses local machine installation risks. "We remain constructive on Tencent's competitive standing and upcoming AI developments leveraging its existing ecosystem strengths," they add. Shares are last at HK$550.50. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)

0207 GMT - Uncertainty remains elevated after damage to several energy facilities due to the Middle East conflict, with the full impact on regional oil production and infrastructure still unclear, MBSB Research says in a note. Given limited visibility on how the situation may evolve, MBSB adopts a scenario-based outlook. Its base case assumes targeted military strikes could continue for weeks, with intermittent shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Under this scenario, crude oil prices may hover around $90-$100 a barrel, potentially encouraging more upstream investment activities and benefiting companies such as Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering, Deleum and Bumi Armada, it adds. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0159 GMT - Petronas Chemicals could benefit from the shortage and higher prices for urea following disruptions in the Middle East, Citi analysts Oscar Yee and Desmond Law say in a note. The Mideast region accounts for about 30%-35% of the global sea-borne urea trade. Urea prices have risen to $650-$700 a ton from about $500 at end-February, with further upside likely, they reckon. Petronas Chemicals is Malaysia's only urea producer and exports about 60% of its output, they add. Citi raises the company's 2026 Ebitda estimates by 1.1 billion ringgit to 3.2 billion ringgit on higher urea and minor methanol price hikes. It raises Petronas Chemicals' target price to 5.00 ringgit from 3.80 ringgit, and keeps a buy rating. Shares are 10% higher at 4.57 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0114 GMT - Samsung Electronics is likely to post a first-quarter earnings beat on higher memory-chip prices, KB Securities analysts say. The South Korean tech giant's operating profit is expected to reach around 40 trillion won for the January-March period, topping an FnGuide-compiled consensus estimate of 35 trillion won, analysts led by Jeff Kim say in a research note. That would be six times higher than a year earlier and double the previous quarter's level, they say. Prices for DRAM and NAND--the two main memory-chip types--rose 51% and 48%, respectively, in the first quarter, accelerating from 40% and 25% in the previous quarter, they note. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0111 GMT - Coliwoo could benefit from the influx of expatriates and students to Singapore amid uncertainty in the Middle East, says RHB Research's Vijay Natarajan in a note. This likely increase could push up rental demand in the city-state. The co-living accommodation operator's 1Q portfolio occupancy rose, indicating firm demand, the analyst says. The company's recent plan to sell a portfolio of mature assets is also likely to draw healthy investor interest, he adds, noting that the assets are being marketed at a slight premium to book value. RHB Research retains its buy rating and S$0.82 target price on Coliwoo, which is flat at S$0.52. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0109 GMT - Kuala Lumpur Kepong's outlook appears strong given its robust upstream growth outlook, while its industrial property ventures provide an additional medium-term earnings catalyst, Hong Leong IB analyst Chye Wen Fei says in a note. The planter expects fresh fruit bunch output to grow by mid- to high single digits in FY2026, she notes. Crude palm oil production costs could stay below 2,000 ringgit a ton as productivity gains offset higher labor and fertilizer expenses. Industrial property projects with potential gross development value exceeding 7 billion ringgit could support earnings from FY 2026. However, weak demand and margin pressure in Europe's chemicals sector may continue to weigh on near-term earnings, she adds. Hong Leong maintains a buy rating on KLK and keeps its target price at 21.48 ringgit. Shares are 0.4% lower at 19.46 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0041 GMT - Southeast Asian markets' sector diversification likely keeps its equities more insulated from artificial-intelligence-driven selloffs than the U.S., say analysts at BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions. Southeast Asian indexes have heavier weighting in banks, industrial and hardware companies, versus U.S. indexes' technology concentration, they note. Given widespread AI adoption in the region, any AI-induced downturn is likely to result in repositioning, they say. Many companies in the region are also relatively new to AI adoption and less reliant on advanced software problems, which means the immediate risk from AI disruption is materially lower, they add. Ongoing investment in AI infrastructure will help anchor Southeast Asian growth and support a more stable risk and volatility profile, they add. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0021 GMT - The Nikkei Stock Average falls 1.6% to 54135.32 in early trade amid risk-off sentiment. "As has been the case in the last several days, nothing else but crude oil matters right now," says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at FOREX.com, in an email. With the oil-reserves release announcement unable to push crude prices lower, this is keeping risk appetite downbeat, the analyst adds. Among the worst performers on Japan's benchmark index, Kokusai Electric is down 5.5%, Japan Exchange Group is off 4.5%, and Mitsubishi Estate is 4.3% lower. The dollar is at 159.20 yen, compared with Y158.95 late Wednesday in New York. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

2358 GMT - Nine Entertainment could be at risk of being cut from Australia's S&P/ASX 200 at the benchmark stock index's June rebalance, Canaccord Genuity analyst Lachlan Woods warns. While the rebalance's three-month reference period began only recently, Woods flags the Australian media conglomerate as a possible candidate for removal. Nine's market capitalization has fallen since last year's divestment of its controlling stake in property advertiser Domain, and distribution of most of the A$1.4 billion proceeds to shareholders. Woods expects Temple & Webster, SiteMinder, WEB Travel, and Guzman Y Gomez to be removed. He sees 4DMedical, Electro Optic Systems, Alkane Resources and Kingsgate being added, but cautions that other moves are possible depending on M&A activity. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

2354 GMT - Japanese stocks may decline as concerns about energy costs continue amid the Middle East conflict. Nikkei futures open 1170 points lower at 54055 on the SGX. The dollar is at 159.11 yen, compared with Y157.97 as of Wednesday's Tokyo stock market close. Investors are focusing on developments in Iran and crude oil prices. TheNikkei Stock Average closed 1.4% higher at 55025.37 on Wednesday. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 11, 2026 22:18 ET (02:18 GMT)

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