The latest Market Talks covering Financial Services. Exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0813 GMT - Rathbones has scope for a multiyear journey of earnings growth and re-rating, RBC analysts Ben Bathurst and Jude Neanor write in a note. They add that CEO Jonathan Sorrell is the right man at the right time. The wealth manager said a number of areas have been identified for improvement at its U.K. wealth management business following a review by the FCA. It expects to book costs of 60 million pounds over the next two years, but said the company's dividend policy remains unchanged, which the analysts say is a "comfort." RBC has an outperform rating on the company and a 24.00 pound target price on its stock. Shares are down 16% to 16.36 pounds. (ian.walker@wsj.com)
0810 GMT - India's trade outlook for fiscal year 2027 remains challenging, but the worst is likely over, Elara Capital writes in a note. India successfully diversified its export destinations, while a weaker rupee is helping push up the levels of both goods and services exports, it says. India's goods exports to countries excluding the U.S. grew 37% in May, compared with the pre-tariff period in January 2025, it adds. Although FX weakness and higher energy prices have kept the import bill elevated, the upcoming months of expected softness in crude oil prices and a potential moderation in freight costs due to reopening of the Strait of Hormuz may normalize costs, they add. (kimberley.kao@wsj.com)
0627 GMT - Bank Central Asia remains the most defensive among the big Indonesian banks, say DBS Group Research analysts in commentary. They cite the lender's relatively stronger funding franchise and industry-leading current account and savings account ratio, which is a key profitability metric, the analysts say. While Bank Central Asia's loan growth for the first five months of 2026 was softer than the company's guidance, its results appeared resilient thanks to its noninterest income, which grew on stronger foreign-exchange and trading-related activities, they add. The lender should be able to preserve its margins and profitability thanks to its relatively low funding costs, they add. DBS maintains its buy rating and 8,000 rupiah target price. Shares last closed 5.9% higher at 6,275 rupiah. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0315 GMT - The U.S.-Iran peace deal is a welcome relief for Asia, Nomura analysts say in a research note. The deal is positive for Asia's energy importing economies through lower inflation, as every 10% drop in oil prices could lower inflation by 0.2-0.3 percentage points, they note. Combined with strong AI demand, this should position Asia for better performance, they say. Nomura identifies Thailand, Philippines, India and South Korea as key beneficiaries and is more cautious about Indonesia and Thailand, as the former faces persistent policy uncertainty and the latter seeing structural constraints such as an aging population. Meanwhile, "the macro benefits will likely be visible with a lag, as supply chain normalization will likely be gradual," they add. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
0234 GMT - Taiwan's central bank is mostly expected to hold interest rates steady for another quarter on Thursday. While six economists expect the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to stand pat, Barclays and Goldman Sachs economists forecast a surprise hike amid higher inflation and pressure building on the Taiwan dollar as other central banks tighten. Inflation in Taiwan accelerated in May to levels above the closely watched 2% threshold for the first time in a year amid its dependency imported fuels. Meanwhile, Taiwan raised its 2026 growth forecast to 9.64% after its 1Q growth surged 14.55% on robust tech exports. Although most economists expect no action from the CBC this quarter, some anticipate a cautious tone, pencilling in a rate hike later in the year. (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
0230 GMT - Wealth management is expected to remain a key growth driver for Maybank, with noninterest income from the segment showing strong momentum, CIMB Securities analyst Ei Leen Tan says in a note. Growth is being supported by inflows from high-net-worth clients, particularly in the Singapore market, while Malaysia offers further upside due to relatively low wealth penetration, she says. Maybank is also advancing capital optimization initiatives, including balance sheet reallocation and improvement of underperforming segments to support its medium-term ROE target of 13%-14%, she notes. CIMB maintains a hold rating on Maybank and keeps its target price at 10.50 ringgit. Shares are 2.0% higher at 11.14 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
1048 GMT - AI is a credible efficiency tailwind for Nordic banks, but it's not a near-term earnings inflection, UBS analyst Johan Ekblom writes. UBS says its framework points to 15% to 18% gross efficiency potential, falling to a net figure of around 8%-10% after reinvestment, equivalent to a 100 basis-point return on equity uplift. "Our base case reflects around two thirds of this theoretical benefit by 2030." UBS says the key question is no longer whether AI improves productivity, but how much of that benefit is retained in the P&L. Picking winners and losers is hard, but the bank's preference, based on business model, scale and starting point is for Nordea and Danske Bank. Handelsbanken's operating model might make it less well suited to be an AI winner. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)
0927 GMT - Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index closed 4.1% higher at 6254.97 as the peace deal between U.S. and Iran lifted global risk appetite and reinforced a bargain-hunting recovery, says iFast Capital's Kevin Khaw Khai Sheng. Gains however are expected to remain limited until after this week's policy meeting at Bank Indonesia as well as clearer evidence of foreign inflows stabilizing, he says, noting the rally's sustainability hinges on the rupiah staying below 18,000 against the dollar and Middle East tensions continuing to ease. Among gainers, Bank Central Asia rose 5.9% and Bank Rakyat Indonesia added 4.9%. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
0843 GMT - Energy flows are expected to return to around 80% of pre-disruption levels by the end of the third quarter, says Neil Shearing from Capital Economics. "It is likely that it will take some time for oil flows through the Strait to return to prewar levels," the chief economist says. "Even if ships now have safe passage, tankers are in the wrong place, oil production/refining facilities need to get up to full capacity, and questions over the cost and availability of insurance for ships traversing the Strait will remain." Natural-gas flows instead are likely to recover more slowly as Iranian strikes against Qatari facilities have taken about 17% of output offline. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0824 GMT - Malaysia's consumer-price index likely rose 2.1% on year in May, gaining pace from 1.9% in April, according to the median estimate of nine economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. The modest uptick was likely supported by a low base effect and some pass-through from higher energy prices, though fuel subsidies and steady food and core inflation continued to keep price pressures in check, DBS economists Taimur Baig and Samuel Tse say in a note. The CPI data are due Friday. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 16, 2026 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)
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