The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1232 ET [Dow Jones]--Investors view the rising legal challenge to prediction markets as a positive for sportsbooks. Shares of DraftKings and FanDuel parent Flutter Entertainment are both up by a single-digit percentage Monday after a bipartisan bill to limit prediction markets entered the Senate. The bill would ban trading on sports events on platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. Wall Street has seen the rise of prediction markets as a major threat to sportsbooks' market share, as Kalshi reported surpassing $1 billion in trading volume last month, boosted substantially by sports wagering. DraftKings and FanDuel have been racing to catch up with their own prediction products. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)
1224 ET -- Investor sentiment around Chewy is mixed, JPMorgan analysts say in a research note. The company's stock has fallen about 30% since its FY3Q report in December, a drop the analysts attribute primarily to concerns around Chewy's sales growth and customer additions. And broadly, sentiment around small- to mid-cap e-commerce companies is negative due to AI-related risks, they add. Some of these fears may be overblown, though. The analysts point out that Chewy grew about two times faster than the broader pet-supplies industry last quarter, and that recent data suggest accelerating trends. "We believe Chewy remains confident in market share gains given improved product, execution and marketing," they write. Chewy is scheduled to report FY4Q earnings Tuesday. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
1216 ET [Dow Jones]--OpenAI's move to refocus on its enterprise business sets the stage for an enterprise artificial-intelligence battle over the coming year, Truist analysts write in a note. While Anthropic currently seems like a leader in enterprise, OpenAI's Codex has annual recurring revenue potentially nearing $2 billion, and the impressive showing of GPT-5.4 could position the company to take share from Claude Code and Cursor. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are using forward-deployed engineer strategies to drive enterprise adoption, the analysts note. Other companies are also positioned to compete for the enterprise business, including Palantir and Microsoft. News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)
1158 ET - Reducing exposure to high-risk strategies appears more favorable in the current environment of elevated uncertainty, TwentyFour Asset Management's Eoin Walsh says in a note. A full reversal of energy prices and the situation the Middle East is not so easy, Walsh says. Given the uncertainty surrounding the war and its impact on global growth and inflation, investors are better off reducing their exposure to risk rather than taking on risk, he says. (miriam.mukuru@wsj.com)
1130 ET - Oil prices extend losses, with Brent crude back below $100 a barrel after President Trump said the U.S. would postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days following "productive" talks with Tehran. The international oil benchmark dives 13% to $98 a barrel, while the U.S. oil gauge WTI is down 12% to $83.8 a barrel. Iran's Foreign Ministry denied Tehran was in talks with the U.S., according to state media. European natural-gas prices also slump, with the benchmark Dutch TTF front-month contract down 8.7% to 54.13 euros a megawatt-hour. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
1127 ET - Novartis's share-price strength this year raises the bar for upcoming data on late-stage clinical studies that will be pivotal for the Swiss drugmaker's outlook, Bank of America analysts say in a research note. Pipeline failure could hit consensus estimates, but success would help shift investors' focus away from patent expirations, according to Bank of America. Among Novartis's upcoming phase 3 trials, Bank of America is most focused on remibrutinib in relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis and pelacarsen in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, the analysts say. The drugs could generate $3 billion and $3.1 billion in annual peak sales, respectively, the analysts estimate. Bank of America raises its target price on Novartis stock to 140 Swiss francs from 130 francs. Shares rise 1.1% to 116.84 francs. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)
1125 ET - There were an estimated 46.3% more home sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market in February, Redfin says. That's 630,000 more, in numerical terms, the largest gap in records dating back to 2013 and up from 29.8% a year earlier. When sellers outnumber buyers, buyers typically hold the negotiating power. That's considered a buyer's market, but it's only a buyer's market for those who can afford to buy. High housing costs and mortgage have caused many house hunters to retreat, creating an imbalance of buyers and sellers. The number of homebuyers in the market fell 2.4% month over month in February to an estimated 1.36 million. The number of sellers posted a smaller decline, falling 0.4% to an estimated 1.99 million. (chris.wack@wsj.com)
1105 ET - Canadian stocks opened the week with solid gains after President Trump ordered a five-day pause on energy-related strikes in Iran, lifting sentiment across consumer services, mining, and commercial services. The relief rally contrasts with weakness in the energy sector, where Canadian oil producers are sliding alongside crude, now trading near $89 a barrel after a roughly 9.2% drop. Air Canada is among the standout performers, rebounding as easing fuel‑price concerns help support expectations for healthier margins. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)
1027 ET - Cryptocurrencies should remain volatile until a clear trend emerges in either direction for prices, Trade Nation's David Morrison says in a note. Bitcoin and ether have proved resilient given recent sharp falls across equities and precious metals amid the Middle East conflict, he says. This supports the view that last week's crypto pullback was a healthy correction after recent gains, he says. However, the argument that current optimism is misplaced and that recent gains will soon evaporate is also "perfectly valid." Either way, further price swings look likely, he says. Bitcoin rises 4.5% to $71,253, LSEG data show. Ether increases 5.9% to $2,180. The gains come after President Trump said the U.S. would postpone attacks against Iranian energy infrastructure. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)
1010 ET - The EU's apparent move to rule out aggressive intervention in energy markets is positive for utilities stocks in the region, analysts at Bank of America write. Suggested policies to soften the energy shock resulting from conflict in the Middle East appear to be measured, removing a tail risk for the sector, they say. Tax cuts for electricity use, direct targeted support for industries and an extension of free carbon permits are the most likely policy interventions, the analysts say. Any measures touching companies' profits won't leave them out of pocket, the analysts add. A basket of European utilities stocks rises 0.4% amid a broader rally in stocks. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
0930 ET - Huel fits in with where Danone already wants to operate, analysts at Barclays write in a note. Danone continually highlights it health-oriented portfolio, with exposure to the protein and performance nutrition category through YoPRO or Oikos products, the analysts say. "Huel adds something slightly different; a scaled consumer brand in everyday complete nutrition, with strong digital execution and a younger, more lifestyle-oriented consumer proposition," the analysts say. Huel can be positioned between Danone's main high-protein offerings, and those clinical nutrition products. Shares are up 0.6% at 68.94 euros. (aimee.look@wsj.com)
0917 ET - Danone's acquisition of Huel will be accretive to organic sales growth, analysts at J.P. Morgan write in a note. However, the deal will have a limited earnings per share accretion for the group, the analysts say. The deal is valued at around 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion), a source told Dow Jones Newswires. It still remains subject to closing conditions. Huel, which makes protein powders, bars and meals, will benefit from Danone's global reach, the analysts add. Danone shares are up 0.6% at 68.94 euros. (aimee.look@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 23, 2026 12:36 ET (16:36 GMT)
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