The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0235 GMT - Public Bank's proposal to acquire the remaining 26.77% stake in Public Financial should have negligible impact on the Malaysia-listed lender, Maybank IB analyst Desmond Ch'ng says in a note. The 735 million Hong Kong dollar take-private could reduce Public Bank's capital buffer, but shouldn't hinder its dividend payout or plan to return 3.5 billion ringgit in excess capital over three years, he says. The deal is expected to be easily absorbed given Public Financial's less than 1% contribution to Public Bank's earnings. Over the longer term, Public Bank might dispose its Public Financial stake to unlock value and free up capital, given Hong Kong's competitive market, he adds. Maybank maintains its buy rating on Public Bank and keeps target price at 5.50 ringgit. Shares are 0.4% lower at 4.98 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0235 GMT - Koito Manufacturing's earnings are likely to continue growing with profitability in the Americas region improving, SMBC Nikko Securities' Kazunori Maki says in a report. Manufacturing costs are expected to fall substantially this fiscal year as the company has been streamlining distribution, assembly and inspection processes via automation and workforce optimization, the analyst says. The brokerage lifts its fiscal-year operating profit forecast for the Japanese automotive lighting equipment maker to 64.7 billion yen from Y63.2 billion. It raises its rating on the stock to neutral from underperform and its target price to Y2,700.0 from Y2,500.0. Shares are 1.1% higher at Y2,586.5. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0215 GMT - Link Real Estate Investment Trust's ongoing buybacks should support its units' performance, keeping DBS Group Research analysts bullish on the REIT.While its tenants' 1Q sales were weak, the trust seems to be on track to deliver annualized savings of 200 million Hong Kong dollars in FY 2027, the analysts say. The REIT's buybacks should also continue to mitigate its top-line pressure and support stable distributions per unit in FY 2027, they say. The buybacks also position the trust to be a resilient pick for investors amid a volatile interest rate environment, with any noncore asset disposals likely to be catalysts, the analysts add. DBS maintains a buy rating and HK$43.65 target price. Units decline 0.15% to HK$38.66. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0210 GMT - Concerns around DFI Retail Group's limited near-term catalysts or potential mergers and acquisitions appear to be overblown, says DBS Group Research's Zheng Feng Chee in a note. The market likely hasn't factored in the retailer potentially raising its medium-term earnings target by at least 10%, the analyst says. He expects DFI--which operates the 7-Eleven convenience-store brand in select markets--to raise its 2028 core earnings guidance range to US$340 million-US$380 million from US$310 million-US$350 million. He also reckons DFI is unlikely to launch any major acquisitions, as key opportunities seem to be earnings dilutive. DBS maintains its buy rating and US$5.00 target price on DFI's Singapore-listed stock. Shares rise 0.8% to US$3.65. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0207 GMT - Malaysia's technology sector's bullish momentum could sustain into 2H, supported by improving earnings, positive management guidance and robust order books amid the semiconductor upcycle, RHB IB analyst Lee Meng Horng says in a note. AI-led demand remains a key growth catalyst, with strong wafer fabrication equipment and automated test equipment demand benefiting equipment and engineering services players, he says. Lee expects to see greater upside among laggards and second-tier names where earnings recovery and operational improvements are not fully reflected in valuations. RHB maintains an overweight rating on Malaysian tech sector, pegging Malaysian Pacific Industries, Pentamaster, CTOS Digital, Coraza Integrated Technology and JHM Consolidation as top picks. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0200 GMT - Copper prices are lower in early Asian trading amid profit-taking activities. Strong demand and supply side issues have sent prices to record highs, according to ANZ research analysts in a commentary. The metal has rallied more than 17% this year, they note. Demand in China is expected to pick up as the market enters a traditional peak season for manufacturing, the analysts say. The three-month LME copper contract is 0.5% lower at $14,637.00 a ton.(tracy.qu@wsj.com)

0146 GMT - Indonesia Stock Exchange's recent plan to lower its minimum share price to 1 rupiah from 50 rupiah will likely enhance transparency and price discovery, Citi Research analysts say in a note. The change, which had been set to be implemented on Monday, has been delayed to later this month, they note. The move should also help Indonesia in the MSCI review due in November, says Citi, which expects the country to maintain its emerging-market status. MSCI previously warned that Indonesia could be downgraded to frontier-market status, citing transparency concerns. Citi continues to be cautiously positive on the Jakarta Composite Index and has an end-2026 target of 7250. The JCI last closed at 6686.44. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)

0138 GMT - Idemitsu Kosan's earnings are likely to be supported by wider margins of export products, Jefferies analysts say in a report. Earlier this year, the Iran-related crude supply shock forced Japanese refiners like Idemitsu to slow operations and prioritize domestic supply. This headwind is now reversing as alternative crude procurement has restored utilization, the U.S. bank says. Idemitsu is likely to benefit from strong crude procurement and surplus export capacity, Jefferies says. A recovery in the Vietnam joint venture Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical is also a positive catalyst, the bank says. Jefferies raises its rating on Idemitsu to buy from hold and its target price to 2,200 yen from Y1,400. Shares are up 5.4% at Y1,626.5. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)

0124 GMT - SK Telecom's expanding artificial-intelligence data center business could support higher dividend payouts, say Hana Securities' Hong Seek Kim and Sanghun Lee. The analysts expect revenue from the South Korean telco's AIDCs could surge 10-fold to 5 trillion won by 2032, assuming capacity will jump to 1.5 gigawatts by then from 140 megawatts currently. The AIDC business could add about one trillion won to operating profit by 2032, potentially allowing the company to increase its dividend payouts by roughly 500 billion won, or up 67% from current levels, they add. Hana keeps a buy rating and 140,000-won target price for the stock. Shares are 1.0% lower at 91,500 won. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0123 GMT - Crude palm oil futures prices are higher than spot prices, with the market pricing in tighter supply and higher CPO prices in 2027, Maybank analyst Ong Chee Ting says in a note. This reflects expectations of seasonally lower 1H 2027 output, which could be further weakened by the lagged impact of El Nino, especially in Indonesia, he says. Malaysia-based planters should be safer bets as Indonesia is likely to bear the brunt of El Nino, he says. Ong retains his three-month positive view on the Southeast Asian plantations sector, although near-term price upside may be capped by competing oils trading near parity with CPO, demand rationing and potential delays to Indonesia's B50 mandate. Maybank pegs Kuala Lumpur Kepong, Sarawak Oil Palms and Genting Plantations as its top buys. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0107 GMT - Soon Hock Enterprise's development pipeline could provide revenue visibility through 2029, says UOB Kay Hian's Shaina Kamlesh Mahtani in a note. Piling works for a development in Singapore are likely to commence soon, with the final temporary occupation permit targeted to be received by 2027, the analyst says. Another site's final permit is expected by 1Q 2029, while other redevelopments are in their final design stage.Soon Hock's healthy balance sheet also supports its staggered development pipeline and dividends, the analyst adds. Still, UOB KH cuts its target price to 66 Singapore cents from S$0.71 to reflect lower peer valuations. The brokerage maintains its buy rating. Shares were last at S$0.595. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0024 GMT - Amplitude Energy's intersection of natural gas with its Juliet-1 exploration well should spark relief among investors given two earlier setbacks in its drilling campaign, says Jarden. Its target price rises by 9.7% to 2.03 Australian dollars a share to capture 50% of its unrisked valuation for Juliet of A$0.36/share. Previously, Jarden had a zero risk weighting given negative results from the earlier Elanora and Isabella prospects. "While some boxes remain to be ticked before we can call Juliet a gas discovery, all data released to date points to a positive outcome," analyst Nik Burns says. Amplitude's drilling campaign aims to find natural gas to support its East Coast Supply Project in southeastern Australia. Jarden rates the stock at overweight; the stock is up 1.1% at A$1.89 Wednesday, and up some 14% so far this week.