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

0355 GMT - Tuhu Car's 278 million Australian dollar acquisition of mycar Tyre & Auto is expected not only to boost earnings but also provide a testing ground for future overseas expansion, CMB International analysts say in a note. The deal would lift Tuhu's adjusted net profit by an estimated 10% and 15%, respectively, for the next two years, the note said. The brokerage maintains its buy rating on the Chinese car-maintenance and repair services platform and raises its target price to 19.0 Hong Kong dollars from HK$18.0. Shares closed 0.4% lower at HK$11.29.(venkat.pr@wsj.com)

0330 GMT - Havells India's recent stock correction creates a favorable risk-reward ahead of fiscal 2Q earnings, Citi analyst Ashish Kanodia says in a note. The stock fell nearly 18% in September. Citi expects revenue and Ebitda to grow 21% and 28% on year, respectively, on continued strength in businesses such as cables & wires and a recovery in consumer-facing segments, alongside better margins. Profit growth could continue to outpace revenue growth in the medium term, Citi says. It adds a 30-day upside catalyst watch on the stock. Citi keeps its buy rating with a target price of 1,525 rupees. Shares last ended at 1,015.20 rupees. (venkat.pr@wsj.com)

0325 GMT - The Malaysian consumer sector could remain resilient over the next six months, though spending is likely to become more selective, Apex Securities analyst Wong Kai Heng says in a note. Stable employment, wage growth and targeted government aid for households should support consumption, with cash aid allocation expected to rise to around 17 billion ringgit in 2027 from 15 billion ringgit in 2026, he says. Consumers are likely to remain value conscious, favoring essentials and affordable food and beverages over higher-ticket discretionary goods, he says. However, higher costs of labor, food and logistics could limit margin growth, while weaker sentiment and potential subsidy and tax changes pose further risks, he adds. Apex Securities maintains a neutral stance on the sector, naming CCK Consolidated, Oriental Kopi and Padini for their exposure to household consumption. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0308 GMT - Australia's August household spending data includes positive signals for shares of companies, including car dealer Eagers Automotive, Morgans analysts say. They point out that transport was the strongest spending category for the month. While this includes fuel, they tell clients in a note that sales of new vehicles also contributed, supported by demand for electric vehicles. Elsewhere, they see consumers still willing to spend on food, hotels, cafes and restaurants. They see this as positive for fast-food store operators Collins Foods and Guzman Y Gomez and supermarket operators Woolworths and Coles. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

0257 GMT - Investor concerns over higher interest rates and potential rights issues or placements remain for New World Development, says Citi analyst Cindy Li in a note. A 25-basis-point interest rate increase could add 200 million Hong Kong dollars to the company's finance costs, with management yet to clarify its plans regarding a potential equity raise, the note says. On the positive side, Citi expects FY2027 cash flows to improve from property sales, asset divestments and a REIT IPO. The analyst also expects the developer's net debt to fall in 1H. Citi maintains its neutral rating with a HK$6.90 target. Shares closed 0.9% higher at HK$6.05 Wednesday. (venkat.pr@wsj.com)

0235 GMT - South Korean internet giant Naver could post a 3Q earnings miss, Nomura's Angela Hong says. The company's operating profit likely came in below market consensus, partly dragged down by elevated costs for infrastructure and offline business expansion, the analyst writes in a note. Hong trims her earnings-per-share forecasts for Naver by 8% for both 2026 and 2027, citing expectations for softer near-term earnings and margin headwinds. Though the company's longer-term artificial-intelligence factory project remains on track, she remains on the sidelines pending greater visibility into AI data-center demand and return profiles. Nomura maintains a 210,000-won target price and neutral rating on the stock. Shares are 0.9% lower at 191,900 won. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0220 GMT - Codan's second-half outlook for its communications division looks potentially conservative to UBS analysts. While they maintain a neutral rating on the technology hardware supplier, the investment bank's analysts think that the second-half outlook implied by its annual divisional growth guide assumes there will be no new conflict-related contract wins over the balance of the year. They tell clients in a note that this take seems conservative and that they see substantial upside to Codan's guidance for 30%-40% revenue growth at its communications business. UBS lifts its target price 43% to 68.50 Australian dollars. Shares are up 0.6% at A$66.20. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

0220 GMT - After Lynas Rare Earths' planned takeover of Meteoric Resources, Euroz Hartleys wonders: "How long will VMM [Viridis Mining] last from here?" Viridis's Colossus project neighbors the Caldeira project owned by Meteoric, which is being acquired by Lynas in a 968 million Australian dollars deal. Assuming equal treatment for Viridis implies a value of greater than A$5.00/share, the broker says. Viridis shares surge by 16% to A$3.87. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

0211 GMT - LG Electronics India's strong growth without margin dilution is expected to continue in the second quarter, Citi analyst Ashish Kanodia says in a note. A shift toward premium products and price increases are expected to offset raw-material and currency headwinds, with Citi forecasting revenue and Ebitda growth of 15% and 20%, respectively. Citi adds a 90-day upside catalyst watch on the stock, which it continues to view as a top pick in its Indian durables coverage. The bank has a buy rating with a target price of 2,025 rupees. Shares closed 1.7% lower at 1,710.50 rupees Wednesday. (venkat.pr@wsj.com)

0158 GMT - Lynas Rare Earths' planned acquisition of Meteoric Resources is "a decent deal" for Lynas, says Ord Minnett. "It adds a massive resource offering strategic options," the broker says. In the near term, the all-share deal is dilutionary for Lynas and adds some permitting risk, Ord Minnett says. Its net asset value on Lynas goes to A$7.10/share from A$7.60/share. The broker has a "lighten" rating and a A$14.00/share price target on Lynas, both of which are under review pending a detailed assessment of the acquisition, it says. Shares are down 5.7% at A$13.04. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

0152 GMT - Higher global rates could be a headwind for Malaysian banks, with weaker bond valuations likely to weigh on earnings and capital, Citi analyst Yong Hong Tan says in a note. Higher U.S. rates could also keep more deposits in foreign currencies, driving up ringgit deposit rates and funding costs, he adds. The 10-year Malaysian government securities yield rose 42 basis points on quarter in 3Q, potentially affecting banks' capital and trading income, he says. August data showed banks lengthening deposit maturities while average lending rates fell, pointing to further margin pressure, he reckons. Citi recommends a barbell approach, favoring CIMB for potential capital releases and Public Bank for dividend and wealth-management opportunities. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0151 GMT - Budweiser Brewing's earnings growth is likely to remain under pressure due to a weaker-than-expected recovery in China's beer industry demand, Deutsche Bank analyst Han Zhang says in a note. The bank cuts the company's 2026-28 Ebitda estimates by around 4% and expects 3Q revenue to decline by the low teens, with Ebitda falling by the high teens year-over-year. Deutsche Bank cuts the stock's target price to 8.30 Hong Kong dollars from HK$9.20 and maintains its buy rating. Shares closed at HK$5.915 on Wednesday.