The latest Market Talks covering the Auto and Transport sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0238 GMT - Indian auto-sector suppliers are more likely to benefit from the U.S. reducing tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 25%, rather than the automakers themselves, say Nomura's Kapil Singh and Siddhartha Bera in a note. While details on the U.S.-India trade deal haven't been announced, the analysts don't expect it to cover auto components for passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as metal. Instead, suppliers of parts such as off-highway tires and non-auto machinery such as Bharat Forge and Balkrishna Industries should benefit directly from the deal. The agreement is also likely to improve conditions for new business wins, as it removes the trade uncertainty overhang for Indian suppliers, they say.(megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0201 GMT - MISC's 20-year liquefied natural gas charter from Petronas LNG for three newbuild carriers appears strategically positive, as it reinforces MISC's position as the national oil company's core LNG shipping partner, TA Securities analyst Luqman Anwar says in a note. The deal may support MISC's fleet rejuvenation, accelerating its shift toward more fuel-efficient, lower-emission vessels and enhancing long-term competitiveness amid tighter environmental standards, he says. While earnings contributions are long dated, the contract reduces exposure to spot market volatility and carries minimal counterparty risk, he says. He doesn't expect material near-term earnings impact, as vessel deliveries and charter commencement are scheduled to begin in 2029. TA Securities maintains a hold rating on MISC and keeps its target price at MYR8.40. Shares are 0.6% higher at MYR8.18. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
1829 GMT - Canada's Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says he's spoken to aircraft maker Gulfstream regarding the country's certification process, which is now the focus of another trade row between Ottawa and Washington. President Trump threatened last week to decertify Bombardier aircraft in the US, saying in a Truth Social post that Canadian regulators have failed to date certifying the Gulfstream 500-, 600-, 700- and 800-series jets. General Dynamics owns Gulfstream. MacKinnon says he won't interfere in the regulatory process but has inquired. "I have communicated with manufacturers to the extent that any ambiguities or misunderstandings may have existed. I think they've been dissipated," MacKinnon says. Bombardier shares dropped sharply after Trump's threat but have since recouped some losses. Bombardier is up 1%. (Paul.Vieira@wsj.com, @paulvieira)
1613 GMT - French automaker Renault could suffer as it tackles competition from Chinese companies and Volkswagen, Morgan Stanley analysts write. Market watchers are too quick to extrapolate Renault's strong sales performance over 2025 into the future, the analysts say. "We are particularly concerned about the long term, with [Morgan Stanley] estimates far below market expectations, given Renault's lack of exposure to the U.S.," they write. The U.S. market is better shielded from Chinese competition, they add. Renault falls 3.4%, with shares in the company already down over 13% for the year to Monday's close. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
1308 GMT -- The merger between SpaceX and xAI decreases the odds that Elon Musk will try to roll Tesla into a combined company, Baird analyst Ben Kallo writes in a note. "Given the significant integration ahead of xAI and SpaceX, we do not believe bringing TSLA into the fold would be a near-term event if it ever were to occur," he writes. There's been speculation over whether Musk would try to combine Tesla with other parts of his empire, and Bloomberg reported last week that SpaceX was considering merging with Tesla rather than xAI. "Whether or not that is a possibility, the increase in Musk's companies' combined scale is ultimately a benefit to TSLA whether standing on its own or as a combined entity," Kallo writes. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)
1040 GMT - Tesla climbs 1.1% premarket after Chief Executive Elon Musk confirmed SpaceX, the rocket-and-satellite company he founded, would take over his artificial-intelligence startup xAI. Combined, the company is valued at $1.25 trillion, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Tesla committed to invest $2 billion in xAI last week. SpaceX had been eyeing an initial public offering ahead of the merger, the Journal reported. However, investors are watching for a further merger of the newly consolidated company with Tesla, removing the need for a SpaceX IPO, AJ Bell's Russ Mould writes. Tesla shares fell 2% Monday on bleak January electric-vehicle sales in Europe.(josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 04, 2026 04:20 ET (09:20 GMT)
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