The latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0625 ET - Palm oil futures closed lower, with the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for August delivery closing 126 ringgit lower at 4,457 ringgit a metric ton. Prices likely faced pressure by softer trading in rival vegetable oils overnight, as optimism around a potential U.S.-Iran deal eased Middle East risk premiums and likely capped gains in the broader oil complex, say Kenanga Futures analysts. Concerns over weaker export demand and continued profit-taking could have also pressured prices, they say. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0509 ET - Syensqo's strategic review of its performance and care segment is positive in that it shows the company sharpening its focus on the higher value parts of its portfolio, Bernstein analysts say in a note. The review indicates that growing the materials segment is management's core priority, and that accountability is increasing at the Belgian chemicals company, Bernstein says. "These two points are what we believe will really drive value for Syensqo shareholders over time," the analysts say. "The materials segment is considered the jewel in the Syensqo crown, and arguably needs more attention from management at this time." Shares trade 5.4% higher at 64.35 euros. (sarah.sloat@wsj.com)
0420 ET - Indonesia's plans to centralize exports of key commodities through a state-owned entity carries execution risks and could hurt sovereign credit metrics if poorly implemented, S&P Global Ratings says in a note. The short timeline for implementation raises the risk of trade disruptions, potentially weighing on exports, government revenue and the balance of payments, it says. Investor sentiment and business confidence could also weaken if policymaking become less predictable, which could slow investment and trigger capital outflows. However, a higher government revenue ratio could strengthen fiscal resilience by limiting budget deficit expansion and reduce the impact of higher financing costs during periods of macro strains, S&P adds. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
2150 ET - Northern Star bull Macquarie is intrigued by the timing of managing director Stuart Tonkin's resignation. "While there is never a good time for an MD transition, we think the timing is interesting in the context of the reserve and resource update, which was originally slated for May," Macquarie says. It wonders if there is some downside to reserves at the Hemi project as it is incorporated into Northern Star's reserves and resources for the first time. In terms of Tonkin's potential successor, Macquarie notes that both Northern Star's chief financial officer and chief operating officer have significant experience and have been with the miner for an extended period of time. The bank has an outperform rating and A$25.00 target on Northern Star, which trades down 1.4% at A$19.08. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)
1420 ET - Gold and silver futures finish higher, even as traders see potential rate hikes as a pressure point for prices. Further downside could come with a "major risk-off event," says analysts with Citi Research in a note. With such an occurrence, including a deescalation in the U.S./Iran conflict and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, gold would "likely bottom out" before rebounding in the second-half of the year. But gold and silver have a positive day, with underlying support still coming central bank demand. Front-month gold gains 0.6% to $4,531.30 a troy ounce, while silver rises 1.4% to $75.851/oz. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 21, 2026 12:20 ET (16:20 GMT)
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