The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0800 GMT - ASOS seems to be taking the right steps as it continues on a recovery journey, analysts at Berenberg say in a note. The U.K. online fashion group's sales trend is heading in the right direction, improving sequentially in its fiscal first half, they say. Moreover, the adjusted gross margin came in stronger than anticipated, the analysts say. "We are constructive on ASOS's ongoing recovery potential," Berenberg says. The company is also strengthening its customer engagement. "We find this encouraging as new customer growth could be a leading indicator for sales recovery," the analysts say. Shares closed at 2.12 pounds Tuesday. (andrea.figueras@wsj.com)
0758 GMT - WH Group's U.S. and Europe operations could provide further earnings upside, say DBS Group Research analysts in a note. The Hong Kong-based pork company's ongoing efficiency improvements and streamlined hog production should sustain profitability in the U.S., despite hog farming costs potentially rising. Packaged-meat margins should be partly supported by product-mix optimization, they add. Meanwhile, WH's Europe operations face near-term cost pressures from energy, but efficiency gains and pricing discipline should help mitigate any drag. The analysts reckon the company's measures will support high-single-digit growth for the bottom line this year. DBS retains its buy rating and is reviewing its HK$10.80 target price. Shares rise 7.1% to HK$10.08.(megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0743 GMT - Nordic markets are seen opening slightly higher, with IG calling the OMXS30 up 0.7% at around 2908. The U.S. has reportedly handed over a 15-point plan to Iran, with various demands in exchange for the end of sanctions. The market has reacted with relief, with Brent crude falling to just below $100 a barrel and Asian stock markets higher, SEB's Elisabet Kopelman writes. Stock-market futures are pointing higher in Europe and the U.S. After the Danish election, the Social Democrats remain the largest party, but the left bloc failed to reach a majority. The Moderates will decide whether the Social Democrats' Mette Frederiksen will remain prime minister. OMXS30 closed at 2908.35, OMXN40 at 2401.15 and OBX at 1910.14. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)
0731 GMT - Westports Holdings could remain largely insulated from the Middle East conflict, supported by its focus on intra-Asia trade, RHB IB analyst John Liew says in a note. Direct exposure is limited, with only 5% of container volumes tied to the Middle East, while diversions from Strait of Hormuz disruptions may benefit throughput, he says. However, higher fuel costs could weigh on earnings, with every 10% increase in fuel cost potentially reducing 2026 earnings estimates by about 1%, he reckons. Freight rates could also be more volatile with shipping carriers expected to shelve their plans to return selected east-west services to Suez Canal transits, he adds. RHB maintains a buy rating on Westports and keeps target price at 6.89 ringgit. Shares are 0.8% higher at 5.98 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
0657 GMT - Such is the "varied and volatile nature" of U.S. President Trump's rhetoric that it would be wrong for investors to buy into his every statement, First Abu Dhabi Bank's Simon Ballard says in a note. "We expect a veil of caution to persist across financial markets in the near term," the chief economist says. That said, on the back of cease-fire speculation, financial markets are trading with a more positive tone this morning, even though the focus remains firmly fixed on the Strait of Hormuz, which is still effectively closed to shipping, he says. Markets show signs of relief, with Asian equity indexes rising amid lower oil prices. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0646 GMT - Solar Industries India looks well-placed to capture growth in high-entry-barrier segments like ammunition, Elara Securities (India) analysts say in a research report. The industrial explosives and defense product manufacturer's defense segment is expected to fuel the next phase of growth, driven by factors including India's 2.2 trillion rupee defense capital expenditure for FY 2027, the analysts say. The Indian company has expanded its commercial explosives presence, operating in over 90 countries with seven international manufacturing facilities. It plans 22 billion rupees in capex during FY 2026-2028 to scale existing capabilities and unlock new avenues like advanced ammunition. The brokerage initiates coverage of the stock with a buy rating and target price of 15,450.00 rupees. Shares are 3.7% higher at 13,027.80 rupees. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0643 GMT - Haidilao International's outlook for 2026 is brighter than the market expects, say Citi analysts in a note. The Chinese hotpot-restaurant operator is upbeat about continued recovery of China's casual-dining sector, which the analysts say matches the view of beer maker China Resources Beer. Haidilao's restaurant table turnover rate over January-March likely expanded by single digits on year, the analysts estimate. The company also plans to increase capital expenditure to drive growth, which is likely the reason it didn't increase its dividend payout in 2025, the analysts say. They reckon Haidilao's revenue could expand by mid-to-high single digit this year. Citi retains its buy rating and HK$19.70 target price. Shares fall 10% to HK$14.33. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0641 GMT - HSBC Global Research sees Chinese healthcare companies under its coverage facing limited impact from the Mideast crisis. Companies under coverage derive less than 2%-5% of revenue from the region, and their supply-chain exposure there is also limited, HSBC analysts say in a note. Instead, potentially higher Fed rates, inflationary pressure, and elevated market volatility are likely to weigh on sector sentiment and funding conditions, particularly for biotech and contract research organizations, HSBC says. The bank expects resilient demand and cash flow across the sector, supported by stimulus safeguarding local supply chains and acceleration of import substitution, to partially offset prolonged volatility risks. (jason.chau@wsj.com)
0618 GMT - The market reaction to U.S. President Trump's announcement on Monday made clear that investors are ready to buy the dip when the smoke clears, Navellier & Associates' Louis Navellier says in a note. On Monday, the U.S. President promised to hold off on striking Iranian energy infrastructure for a five-day period as talks continue. "The market remains volatile but we seem to have reached a correction where investors are willing to start buying the dip," he says. Perhaps after nearly a month of living with elevated energy prices, investors are ready to shop for bargains in the longer-term horizon, he says. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0613 GMT - Universal Robina Corp.'s revenue growth is likely to be steady this year, SB Equities' Andrea Marielle Oliveros says in a research report. At an analyst briefing, the consumer food and beverage product company guided for mid-single digit revenue growth and high-single digit branded consumer foods growth. The brokerage maintains the stock's add rating as it forecasts the company's 2026 and 2027 core EPS growth at 3% and 7%, respectively. However, the Philippine company imports almost half of its raw materials with foreign-exchange exposure to coffee, thus a strengthening dollar tempers margin relief from lower input prices. The brokerage lowers the stock's target price to 92.00 Philippine pesos from 104.00 Philippine pesos with an unchanged add rating. Shares are 1.5% higher at 66.00 Philippine pesos. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0541 GMT - ST Engineering's medium-term business execution appears to be stronger, RHB Research's Shekhar Jaiswal says in a research report. Near-term catalysts include sizeable international defense awards, its Commercial Aerospace segment's capacity ramp-up translating into margin expansion, and clearer strategic direction for satellite communications, the analyst says. EFW, the company's freighter-conversion joint venture with Airbus, has secured an A330-300 passenger-to-freighter contract from Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Aviation Leasing Group, the analyst notes. This should be strategically positive for the technology, defense and engineering group's workload visibility and franchise strength. RHB Research raises the stock's target price to S$12.30 from S$11.70 with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are 1.2% higher at S$10.90. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0537 GMT - Investors are disappointed at Pop Mart's dividend pullback, Morningstar analyst Jeff Zhang says. The toy maker's shares plunge 15% to HK$184.40 following strong annual results. Pop Mart's dividend payout ratio dropped to 25% in 2025 from 35% in 2024. Meanwhile, Zhang thinks Pop Mart still relies heavily on the Monsters series, which includes Labubus, as it accounted for 38% of 2025 revenue, up from 35% in 1H. "We still expect a longer duration for Pop Mart to effectively diversify across different IPs," he writes in a note. Pop Mart also plans to reallocate unutilized net proceeds from its IPO for IP acquisitions to expand overseas. It makes sense to move proceeds to "more urgent needs," the analyst adds. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 25, 2026 04:00 ET (08:00 GMT)
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