The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0800 GMT - As geopolitical uncertainties have made it difficult for policymakers and economists to predict the inflation outlook, the Bank of Japan is planning to release new indicators to help them understand core price trends. Gov. Kazuo Ueda says the central bank will release price data that strips out temporary factors--such as the impact of government subsidies--before the summer. However, Ueda says there is "no intention to move policy in either direction immediately" based solely on such data. (megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com)
0739 GMT - Adidas is delivering on its promised turnaround, but sentiment toward the sector remains very low, Berenberg analysts write in a note to clients. The German sporting-goods company reported the strongest consecutive two years of organic revenue growth in nearly a decade, while margins are closing in on its 10% goal, they say. "However, we see limited investor interest in the sector, no matter the strength of the stock narrative," the bank says. After a challenging period, sentiment toward the industry remains low, compounded by concerns about whether Adidas is still fashionable, the analysts say. Shares closed at 138.05 euros. (andrea.figueras@wsj.com)
0739 GMT - Malaysia could see inflation risks rising from escalating Middle East tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, though price pressures remain modest so far this year, UOB economists Julia Goh and Loke Siew Ting say in a note. Spillover effects on food, transport and services could lift inflation from March if the conflict persists, they say. While the full economic impact remains uncertain, Malaysia's GDP growth is supported by the ongoing AI upcycle, while higher energy costs and shipping delays may weigh, they say. With inflation seen largely supply-driven, Bank Negara Malaysia could keep the policy rate unchanged at 2.75% until there is a material shift in global or domestic conditions, they add. UOB maintains its 2026 Malaysia's inflation estimate at 2.0% for now, as the situation remains fluid. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
0713 GMT - Puig Brands has entered a year of change amid a leadership transition, analysts at Berenberg say. Earlier this week, the Barcelona-based beauty and fashion company appointed Jose Manuel Albesa as its next CEO. Marc Puig, grandson of the group's founder, will stay on as executive chairman. "We do not view his promotion to group CEO as a major surprise," the analysts write in a research note. Albesa has been at Puig since 1998 and was more recently deputy CEO of the company. Aside from management shift, the company faces more challenging market conditions. "Fragrance category growth rates continue to normalize," Berenberg says. "Consumer confidence remains fragile and competitive intensity remains elevated," the analysts say.(andrea.figueras@wsj.com)
0712 GMT - 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)
0642 GMT - Jollibee Foods' topline growth is likely to stay resilient, given stable consumer demand in short- to medium-term, Maybank Securities' Daphne Sze says in a research report. The quick-service restaurant operator's global system-wide sales should grow 15.1% this year, while its international business Ebitda is underpinned by the coffee and tea segment and North America, the analyst says. However, the brokerage cuts its 2026 and 2027 net-income forecasts for the Philippine company by 9% and 12%, respectively, to partly reflect higher cost of inventories. It lowers the stock's target price to PHP311.00 from PHP325.00 with an unchanged buy rating. Shares are 3.0% higher at PHP183.60. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
0635 GMT - ZTO Express should be able to consolidate its market leadership, according to DBS Group Research in a commentary. The Chinese logistics company expects its parcel volume to grow 10%-13% in 2026, thanks to its extensive network, outpacing the industry's estimated 8.0% growth, the analysts say. The company's cost discipline and focus on retail expansion will likely help it face any near-term challenges, they add. ZTO is also increasing its cash dividends and share buybacks, which the analysts say show its confidence in its long-term prospects. DBS retains its buy rating and is reviewing its HK$181.00 target price for ZTO's Hong Kong shares and its US$23.20 target price for its ADRs. Shares fall 0.8% to HK$194.90; ADRs last closed at US$25.51. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0623 GMT - Delivery Hero might struggle to find buyers for the regional businesses it would like to sell off, analysts at JPMorgan write in a note to clients. The German food-delivery group last year launched a review of its business in response to shareholder pressure, pointing to a possible sell-off of assets in geographies outside Europe. "However, we increasingly question whether there is sufficient buyer appetite to support meaningful transactions at value‑accretive levels," JPM says, noting an unconducive political and macroeconomic backdrop. Some rivals could prefer organic expansion into markets over buying up assets at the kind of price Delivery Hero might ask, the U.S. bank adds. (joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)
0553 GMT - 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)
0543 GMT - 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)
0537 GMT - LG Innotek could see an earnings boost from its expanding camera-module customer base, DS Investment & Securities' D.H. Cho says. The South Korea-based Apple supplier is likely to supply modules to more North American robotics companies beyond Boston Dynamics, the analyst writes in a note. Shipments could accelerate from 2027, with each humanoid requiring seven camera modules, while average sales price may also rise, he says. The modules can also be used in autonomous-driving sensing components such as light-detection-and-ranging, or LiDAR, sensors, he adds. Boston Dynamics plans to deploy its Atlas humanoids at Hyundai Motor plants from 2028 and aims to produce 30,000 units a year. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 04:00 ET (08:00 GMT)
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