The latest Market Talks covering Financial Services. Exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
0736 GMT - South Korean equities are likely to be supported by continued earnings growth in memory companies and government stimulus, Citi analysts say in a note. The net profit of companies on the Kospi are likely to grow by 231% on year in 2026 on robust, semiconductor-driven gross-domestic product growth and stronger fundamentals in manufacturing, they say. Earnings growth in 2027 is likely to broaden across artificial intelligence, robotics, exporters and manufacturing, while memory-supply shortage should continue to boost memory makers. Citi remains selective on South Korean stocks, preferring names with resilient earnings outlooks. Citi raises its Kospi target to 10000 from 8500. The index last closed 5.2% higher at 8545.98. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0719 GMT - There's high likelihood of Japanese authorities intervening if the dollar's uptrend against the yen continues after this week's slew of central bank meetings, senior Asia economist Alex Loo and FX strategist Howard Du at TD Securities say in a research report. "JPY's weakness, as measured by the real effective exchange rate, is becoming pronounced and warrants repeated FX interventions even as volatility in the JPY has been limited," they say. TD Securities sees the dollar level of 162 yen as the next likely intervention threshold. However, "given the USD's broad uptrend against global currencies, the MoF might wait until USDJPY reaches 165 before intervening," they add. The dollar is 0.1% lower at 160.-8 yen, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0642 GMT - Singapore Exchange looks positioned for structurally stronger growth, Maybank Research's Thilan Wickramasinghe says in a research report. SGX's May equity-market turnover data shows a quickening trend toward a higher "baseline velocity" that should drive structurally higher securities daily average value in the medium-term, the analyst says. With geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty unlikely to abate soon, SGX's positioning as a multiasset risk-management platform is a critical differentiator. Maybank Research lifts its FY 2026-2028 EPS estimates for SGX by 4%-8% to reflect higher average daily volume forecasts. It raises the stock's target price to 25.25 Singapore dollars from S$20.37 with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are 3.2% higher at S$23.31. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0457 GMT - Seek keeps its bull at Bell Potter despite softer job ad volumes. Analyst Michael Ardrey acknowledges the potential that the Reserve Bank of Australia may raise interest-rates again, which would be a further headwind for jobs growth. However, he notes some commentary from economists that soft recent data could mean that the cash rate has peaked at its current 4.35%. While offering no commentary on the likely path for rates, Ardrey tells clients in a note that employment-marketplace operator Seek is his preferred rate-sensitive exposure among Australian classifieds. He keeps a buy rating on the stock but lowers his target price by 22% to 18.60 Australian dollars on moderated earnings forecasts. Shares are up 1.6% at A$13.895. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)
0446 GMT - The Federal Reserve is likely to leave interest rates unchanged this week but remove the easing bias that has been in place since the current rate-cutting cycle began in September 2024, Allianz Global Investors says. The asset manager expects the Fed to remain on hold for the rest of this year. However, resilient growth, a stabilizing labor market and increasing inflation pressures have shifted the balance of risks in a more hawkish direction, says Michael Krautzberger, CIO of Public Markets, noting that Fed Chair Kevin Warsh inherits the most divided committee in over three decades--with three voting members dissenting against the easing bias in April while outgoing Governor Stephen Miran backed a rate cut. (monica.gupta@wsj.com)
0426 GMT - The Reserve Bank of India is likely to start hiking its policy rate soon, with inflationary pressures building up, Capital Economics' Shilan Shah says in a note. Although headline CPI rose to 3.9% in May and is below RBI's 4% target, it is the highest inflation print since February 2025. Inflation accelerated due to a jump in fuel inflation, after four separate hikes to pump prices last month. "More price hikes could follow over the coming weeks," the economist says. Broader supply chain disruptions would also begin pushing up underlying inflation. Capital Economics expects RBI to deliver 75 bps of rate hikes in 2026, taking the policy rate to 6.00%. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0337 GMT - Singapore Exchange is increasingly seen as a beneficiary of global uncertainty and market volatility because of its significant derivatives trading activity, Morningstar's Roy Van Keulen says in a note. The stock-market operator's monthly statistics showed double-digit trading activity growth, with volume gains in foreign-exchange and metals derivatives partly driven by the Middle East conflict, the analyst says. SGX's earnings and trading volumes are likely to remain supported by elevated global volatility even if the current market swings moderate. Morningstar raises its fair-value estimate by 5.0% to S$16.80, but says the shares are materially overvalued. Shares rise 4.2% to S$23.52. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0319 GMT - Thailand's benchmark SET Index no longer looks compelling in terms of valuation despite having done well this year, Maybank Securities (Thailand)'s Chak Reungsinpinya says in a report. The index is trading at 16.3X price-to-earnings ratio, while offering earnings-yield gap of just 3.9%, which appears unappealing given weaker earnings-growth prospects, the analyst says. Slower economic growth could further weigh on earnings-per-share growth, especially in 2027. Maybank downgrades the SET Index to neutral from positive and set a end-2026 target of 1550. The SET Index is last up 0.8% at 1605.63.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0254 GMT - Stocks in the Philippines are higher, as Iran and the U.S. agree on an interim peace deal set to be signed Friday, according to President Trump and Pakistani negotiators. The Philippine Stock Exchange index rose as much as 5.8% to 6253.19 in the morning trade. Sentiment is expected to be supported by the latest developments, says UOB research analysts. Century Pacific Food Inc. is among gainers and rises 4.7%, Jollibee Foods Corp. adds 5.4% and property developer SM Prime Holdings is 7.2% higher, while liquor company Emperador edged down 0.1% and Semirara Mining and Power Corp. is 0.95% lower.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0107 GMT - Singapore Exchange's strong trading activity is likely to be sustained for the rest of FY 2026 and into FY 2027, UOB Kay Hian analyst Roy Chen says in a report. The exchange operator posted strong trading in May, with its securities market turnover rising around 70% on year. Market liquidity and investor participation are likely to be supported by government initiatives including the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Equity Market Development Program. UOB KH has a target price of 21.70 Singapore dollars and a hold rating on the stock. Shares are 3.2% higher at S$23.30. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 15, 2026 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments