The latest Market Talks covering Financial Services. Exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.
1142 ET - The 17.6% January slide in new home sales reflects the impact of extreme cold weather across much of the country, and is likely to have reversed in February, Capital Economics says in a note. Moreover, sales of newly built homes are less vulnerable than resales due to the recent upward pressure on mortgage rates stemming from the war in Iran, with builders in a position to offer significant affordability adjustments. Capital Economics concludes that sales are likely to recover as we head into the spring. (jessica.coacci@wsj.com; jessica_coacci)
1023 ET - The typical U.S. home that went under contract in February spent 66 days on the market, the slowest winter pace in 10 years and up from 58 days a year earlier, Redfin says. Homebuyers are taking their time as spring approaches, which is usually the busiest season for the housing market. But the war in Iran, skyrocketing gas prices and other economic jitters are making homebuyers nervous, Redfin says, adding that it's a buyer's market, with sellers outnumbering buyers by more than 40%. It means the buyers who are in the market have negotiating power and can afford to take their time. The typical homebuyer in February paid 1.8% less than the final list price, the largest discount for this time of year since 2023. The median home sale price was $429,259, up 0.9% from a year earlier, Redfin says. (chris.wack@wsj.com)
1008 ET - The typical homebuyer would save $150 per month taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage instead of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to Redfin. That's a 5.8% discount, the biggest ARM users have had since June 2022 in both dollar and percentage terms. That's because the average homebuyer using an ARM so far in March took on a 5.51% rate, while the average buyer taking out a fixed mortgage had a 6.19% rate. The ARM is 0.68 basis points lower, the biggest gap since June 2022. The typical monthly payment for a homebuyer using an ARM is $2,578, versus $2,727 for someone using a fixed rate. Mortgage rates are lower than they were a year ago, but rates for ARMs have declined more: Today's average rate for an ARM, 5.51%, while the average 30-year fixed rate is now 6.19%. (chris.wack@wsj.com)
1000 ET - Mortgage rates are bouncing back up and home-sale prices are rising, Redfin says. The weekly average mortgage rate rose to 6.11% last week, the highest level since the start of 2026, as inflation jitters and the war in Iran rattled markets. The daily average mortgage rate jumped higher, to a six-month peak of 6.41% on Friday, and has since dropped slightly to 6.31%, Redfin says. The median U.S. home-sale price was $387,000 during the four weeks ending March 15, up 1.3% year-over-year, according to Redfin. The median monthly payment is $2,649, which is down 2.7% year over year but the highest it has been in nine months, Redfin says. New listings are up 1.2%, the second straight week of increases after four months of declines. (chris.wack@wsj.com)
0440 ET - IG Group's earnings and 125 million pound share buyback are expected to be well received by the market, RBC Capital Markets analysts Ben Bathurst and Jude Neanor say in a note. The online-trading company is making demonstrable progress as it keeps its generous capital return policy, the analysts say. "Messaging around accelerating customer growth and raising ambitions will be well received, in light of management's reputation for conservatism." Shares are up 4.5% at 1,421 pence and are up 49% over the past 12 months. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)
0312 ET - The abrupt exit of HDFC Bank's chairman creates a near-term overhang for the stock, say Citi analysts in a note. The chair's resignation letter was strongly worded, say the analysts, but they note that the lender has emphasized that it faces no known operational and governance issues and that its governance architecture remains intact. This resignation could raise investors' focus on continuity and organization restructuring. "Until clarity improves, this episode is likely to weigh as a near‑term overhang, notwithstanding our expectation that operating metrics continue to trend positively over the medium-term," they add. Citi retains its buy rating and 1,200 Indian rupee target price. Shares are down 3.55% at 813.00 rupees. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0153 ET - Moshi Moshi Retail's strategy of differentiating itself from other lifestyle players via store concepts and products appears to work well, Thanachart Securities' Phannarai Tiyapittayarut says in a research report. Its CEO disclosed a plan to upgrade some stores toward 'retailtainment' concept with sticker/photo booths and game machines, the analyst notes. The Thai company just launched a new concept store at Central Pinklao in Thailand to attract younger generations with various photo corners. Its key success factor has been its 90% differentiated products designed to meet local demand versus rivals' global products. The brokerage raises the stock's target price to THB50.00 from THB49.00 with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are 1.5% higher at THB33.50. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0143 ET - India's Sensex is on track for its largest single-day loss since April 2025 amid renewed risk-off sentiment. Escalating Middle East tensions, surging Brent crude prices and the Fed's hawkish stance, indicating fewer rate cuts, are dragging down equities, says Devarsh Vakil at HDFC Securities. The Iran war has particularly rattled Indian markets, as the country is a major energy importer with limited strategic reserves, leaving it vulnerable to energy price swings. The rupee has hit record lows against the dollar, as aggressive importer demand triggered a sharp selloff, Vakil adds. Indian banks are among the biggest decliners in late-morning trading, with HDFC Bank down 4.5% after its chairman stepped down. Bajaj Finance falls 3.5% and Axis Bank loses 2.7%. Energy stocks are also lower, with Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum down 4.6% and 3.0%, respectively. Petronet LNG sheds 3.8%. The benchmark Sensex falls 2.1% to 75064.21. (jason.chau@wsj.com)
2235 ET - AIA Group's strong growth momentum in China in January-February keeps DBS Group Research's Ken Shih bullish on the stock. While the insurer's 2025 new business value was slightly below market expectations, growth in the nine new regions it expanded to in China was in line with its long-term growth compound annual growth rate target of 40% over 2025-30, he says in a note. Its China business segment continues to be strong in the first two months of 2026, gaining more than 20% on year, he adds. The Hong Kong market also remains robust for the insurer, he says. DBS maintains its buy rating and HK$106.00 target price. Shares fall 1.8% to HK$83.05. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
2204 ET - The Federal Reserve appears unsure of the rate path ahead amid the "extremely low visibility-high fluidity Iran war," says Vishnu Varathan at Mizuho Securities. Fed Chair Jerome Powell revealed that the possibility of the next move being a rate hike was discussed, but clarified that it wasn't the base case, says the managing director. The Iran War has accentuated the Fed's dilemma with double-edged inflation and growth/jobs risks. Energy shocks from the Iran war will inevitably lift inflation, but ultimately lead to demand destruction, as discretionary income and bottom lines are squeezed, he says. While the Fed is sorting which way the opposing risks tip, it perhaps has an obligation to pause and assess for now, he adds. (monica.gupta@wsj.com)
1904 ET - AI-assisted stock picking is seen by Macquarie analysts as a potential tailwind to cash equities activity at Australian exchange operator ASX. They observe that recent trading competitions have demonstrated the growing capability of AI models as profitable stock pickers. Recent activity trends are stronger than expected, they say in a note. The analysts point out that the lower average trading fee charged on retail trades in the open market could reduce ASX's average fees, but they nonetheless see higher volumes as a net benefit. Macquarie keeps a A$56.00 target price and "neutral" rating on the stock, which is down 1.5%, at A$49.05. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)
1835 ET - Macquarie thinks fading fear about Iran and oil prices, combined with generally strong global data, should support improving equity sentiment. It says peak panic related to oil prices could have been on March 9. "For exposure to a relief rally, we favor stocks that fell more than 10% since Operation Fury began, but had EPS upgrades coming out of results," Macquarie says. It promotes Sandfire Resources, ALS, James Hardie, Hub24, Downer EDI, Brambles, Qantas and Charter Hall as ideas. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 12:20 ET (16:20 GMT)
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