The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0719 GMT - Bitcoin rises modestly following gains on Wall Street overnight driven by a rally in tech stocks. Investors buying shares of companies tied to artificial intelligence boosted tech stocks, leading U.S. stock indices higher. An easing of oil prices is also supporting risk sentiment. Lower oil prices reflect some profit taking and reports that Saudi Arabia could soon restore some flows through its damaged East-West pipeline which was closed after a drone attack from Iraq. Bitcoin rises 1.1% to $77,392, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
0713 GMT - Oil prices extend losses from the previous session, with Brent crude now at around $102 a barrel amid efforts to restore Saudi export capacity. "Supply concerns have eased as Saudi Arabia works to restore its damaged East-West pipeline," says Soojin Kim, analyst at MUFG. "The recent decline in spot oil prices largely reflects a perception of moderating geopolitical risks, but continued threats to both Hormuz and Red Sea routes should keep Brent above pre-war levels and volatility elevated." In early European trading, Brent falls 2.2% to $102.54 a barrel and is on track for a weekly loss of nearly 2%, while WTI futures are down 1.9% to $99.97 a barrel. Attention now shifts to the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, as the U.S. has reportedly agreed to let Iran's leaders participate. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0614 GMT - Venture Corp.'s earnings are still likely to recover in 3Q, despite growing concerns about the U.S. economy's outlook given high oil prices and higher interest rates, says CGS International's William Tng in a note. Demand from the Singapore tech solutions and contract manufacturing company's customers is likely to turn incrementally positive, barring a deterioration in economic conditions in the U.S., he says. Still, the analyst reduces his estimated 2027 price-to-earnings ratio for Venture's stock to 20X from 23X, given concerns about the U.S. and oil prices. CGSI therefore cuts its target price to 18.94 Singapore dollars from S$21.78, but maintains its add rating. Shares decline 0.95% to S$16.73. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0555 GMT - A potential sale of Nestle's Russian operations looks more uncertain after Moscow moved to place the business under temporary administration, J.P. Morgan analysts say in a research note. The situation seems similar to what happened to Danone before the French food company ultimately sold its Russian essential dairy and plant-based unit for about 180 million euros and took a 1.2 billion-euro hit, the analysts say. For Nestle, Russia accounts for around 2% of sales and 3% of operating profit, mainly in coffee, infant formula and pet food, according to JPM's estimates. "This move throws further into question the value that could be extracted from a forced sale of the company's Russian assets," the analysts add. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
0519 GMT - Korea Electric Power is expected to face earnings pressure from elevated fuel-purchase costs through 2H,Hyundai Motor Securities' Donghyun Shin says. The analyst expects the South Korean state utility operator's profit to decline sharply in 2H, with higher crude oil and liquefied natural gas prices weighing on its bottom line. Shin expects operating profit to fall 71% from a year earlier in 3Q and 76% in 4Q and net profit to slump 74% in 3Q and 82% in 4Q. Higher utilization of the company's nuclear reactors, some of which are currently undergoing maintenance, would be needed to improve earnings, he adds.
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