The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0700 GMT - Thailand retail sector's 2Q earnings are likely to improve, Maybank Securities (Thailand)'s Suttatip Peerasub says in a research report. Drivers are stronger same-store sales growth, store expansion, and manageable costs and expenses despite rising oil prices, the analyst says. Most retailers' SSSG returned to positive territory in April, supported by hot weather, price adjustments, and stock-up demand, the analyst notes. CP All remains the brokerage's top sector pick based on its resilient earnings and attractive valuation. The brokerage also likes Moshi Moshi Retail Corp. given its robust earnings growth. Maybank Securities (Thailand) has buy ratings and target prices of 60.00 baht and 52.00 baht on CP All's shares and Moshi Moshi Retail's shares, respectively. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0658 GMT - Asia-Pacific banks' credit profiles could be somewhat buoyed by government policy and sovereign credit strength even as the Middle East conflict drives up energy prices, says Moody's Ratings in a note. Governments in the region are likely to continue or introduce measures, such as fuel subsidies or price caps, to cushion higher energy costs' drag on borrowers, the analysts say. This could reduce nonperforming loan formation at banks, they say. Governments could also support large and midsize banks via capital injections, fiscal measures or funding, to reinforce market confidence, the analysts say. However, direct support in some emerging markets could be constrained by fiscal limitations, they add. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0648 GMT - Asia Pacific banks' credit profiles could be pressured by second-order effects as a prolonged Middle East conflict drives up energy prices, hitting these lenders' loan portfolios and financial channels, Moody's Ratings says in a report. Higher energy costs will hurt households' purchasing and cash flows of small-and-medium-sized enterprises, which raises asset quality risks for banks. Lenders in economies such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines are more exposed to vulnerable segments that could drive problem loan formation, the analysts say. Asset quality risks are likely to rise more mildly in developed oil-importing economies such as Australia, Japan and South Korea thanks to economic diversification, they say. Higher credit costs are likely to weaken banks' profit growth, they add. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0647 GMT - Taiwan's Taiex ended 3.3% higher at 43644.40, supported by semiconductor-related stocks. Nvidia's strong earnings last week further boosted market sentiment, sending shares across its supply chain higher. "Both domestic and foreign institutional buying amid continued earnings upgrades" have been supporting Taiwan stocks, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Taipei over the weekend ahead of Nvidia GTC and Computex 2026. Shares of TSMC, the world's largest contract chip maker, rose 2.4%, Foxconn Technology gained 4.4% and MediaTek surged 10%. Delta Electronics, which specializes in data-center power management, jumped 9.3%. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
0647 GMT - Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed 2.9% higher at a record 65158.19 thanks to continued hopes for U.S.-Iran peace talks. Chip-related stocks led the gains with Kioxia Holdings surging 14% and Lasertec advancing 13%. The 10-year Japanese government bond yield fell 7 basis points to 2.690% as drops in crude oil prices eased inflation fears. Investors are focusing on developments in the Middle East after President Trump said Sunday he was in no hurry to complete an end-of-war agreement with Iran. The dollar is at 158.90 yen, compared with Y159.19 late Friday in New York. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)
0632 GMT - GMO Payment Gateway's earnings are likely to improve, supported by a solid project pipeline and a potential return to organic sales growth of up to 20%, Jefferies analysts say in a note. Structurally, as the Japanese cashless market continues to expand, the Japanese payment processing company is well positioned to benefit from these secular tailwinds in coming years, they say. Also, the company's overseas business is demonstrating strong growth momentum, the analysts say. Jefferies maintains a buy rating on the stock and raises its target price to 10,400 yen from Y9,420. Shares are 3.6% lower at Y8,533. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)
0615 GMT - Bangkok Airways faces margin squeeze as its operating performance shows no clear signs of improvement, UOB Kay Hian analysts say in a research report. At analyst meeting, management's tone was negative, the analysts note. Management admitted that previously implemented fare-price hike won't be able to offset fuel-cost increase. With the airline likely unable to fully pass on these higher costs to customers, margins might be squeezed from 2Q onward, they say. Also, travel demand remains weak despite the improving air connectivity. The brokerage has a sell rating and a target price of 11.70 baht on the shares, which are 4.9% higher at 15.10 baht. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0609 GMT - Nordic markets are seen opening higher with IG calling the OMXS30 up 1.1% at around 3181. U.S. stock markets closed higher on Friday ahead of the long holiday weekend, SEB's Dana Malas writes. Unexpectedly strong global risk appetite is being driven by investors who don't want to be left out if the Iran war comes to an end, while the artificial-intelligence theme continues to lift the stock market, Malas adds. Stock markets in Asia early Monday are higher and equity market futures also point to a positive open on hopes of an Iran deal after President Trump said that a peace deal was "largely negotiated." Markets are closed in the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Hong Kong. OMXS30 closed at 3146.13, OMXN40 at 2692.15 and OBX at 1985.77. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)
0540 GMT - Tailwinds related to artificial-intelligence may continue to support Singapore's growth in 2Q and 3Q, says UOB's Jester Koh in a note. The tailwinds may also possibly fully offset any drags from energy and petrochemical input supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict. Singapore's 1Q gross-domestic product growth saw a sharp upwards revision to 6.0% from 4.6%, exceeding UOB's estimates and market expectations. The economist raises his 2026 growth projection to 3.2% from 2.5% to incorporate the 1Q outperformance and sustained AI tailwinds, reflected in the improvement in Singapore's April electronics purchasing managers' index, he notes. However, he flags that the duration and extent of Mideast-linked supply disruptions could pose a risk to this view.(megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0510 GMT - Coliwoo Holdings is likely building on its core strength, RHB Research's Vijay Natarajan says in a research report. Demand at the co-living space provider is resilient with healthy occupancy ramp-up at newly opened assets while its capital recycling is set to continue with monetization of mature assets and capital deployed into newer opportunities, the analyst says. The company is also on active lookout for larger value-add opportunities to reap economies of scale. RHB Research likes Coliwoo Holdings for its niche leading co-living positioning, although its refurbishment costs have risen by around 10%. RHB Research has a buy rating and a target price of 0.82 Singapore dollar on the shares, which are unchanged at 0.50 Singapore dollar. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0507 GMT - UI Boustead REIT's cost of debt could be slightly pressured by higher Japanese interest rates, says UOB Kay Hian's Jonathan Koh in a note. Yen-denominated loans account for 46% of the Singapore real-estate investment trust's total borrowings, the analyst notes. He estimates that the REIT's cost of debt could rise 15 bps to 2.65% if the three-month Tokyo interbank offered rate rises to 1.30%, compared with November's 0.80%. However, he reckons this would still be manageable for the REIT. UI Boustead's distribution yield remains attractive at 9.2% for FY 2027, he adds, noting peers' lower projected yields. UOB KH maintains its buy rating and S$1.13 target price. Units rise 3.2% to S$0.805. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 25, 2026 03:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments