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

1036 GMT - India's consumer inflation likely accelerated to 4.9% on year in August from 4.45% in July, according to the median estimate of five economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. That would mark the highest reading this year and since the government revamped its consumer-price index data series in January. Vegetable prices continued to rise alongside a sharp jump in sugar prices, while higher gold prices likely pressured the core inflation, HSBC economists say in a note. Volatile energy prices have also raised input cost pressures that could gradually pass through to consumers, even as retail fuel prices have been kept unchanged since May, says DBS Group Research. The data is expected to be released on Monday. (kimberley.kao@wsj.com)

1008 GMT - Palm oil fell during the Asian trade, erasing earlier gains. Concerns over rising stockpiles and a weaker-than-expected export performance highlighted in the latest data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board may have weighed on sentiment, Kenanga Futures writes in a note. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for November delivery fell 67 ringgit to 4,818 ringgit a ton. (kimberley.kao@wsj.com)

0931 GMT - Adobe's fiscal third-quarter earnings were robust, but the software group's focus on attracting more customers weighs on its near-term outlook, JPMorgan analysts write. The company is happy to put monetization on the back burner in order to focus on expanding its pool of users with the aim that some will convert into paying customer, the analysts write. "Investors will look for proof points in relation to engagement turning into monetization," they say.There are signs that increased user engagement is translating into revenue, with annual recurring revenue in the group's Firefly app and credit pack growing by 40% on quarter, the analysts say. Adobe shares fall 3.1% premarket. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0920 GMT - Berkeley's continuing caution feels instructive, as the company has a strong reputation for being savvy in its calling of the ups and downs of the property market, AJ Bell analyst Russ Mould says in a note. The U.K. home builder can be relied on to deliver clear guidance and it is sticking with its long-term profit target and shareholder returns policy. A healthy cash pile provides a buffer to ride out the current difficult market conditions, Mould says. "Berkeley already announced plans to pare back production by 25% earlier this year and it still sees the market as quiet thanks to domestic uncertainty in the run-up to next month's Budget and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," Mould says. Shares are down 0.2% at 3,286 pence. (anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com)

0914 GMT - Oracle's strong fiscal first-quarter earnings print will answer investor concerns over its ability to convert contracted revenue into cash, J.P. Morgan analysts say. Concerns that Oracle would look to borrow more also weighed on investors' outlook, the analysts say. However, the earnings address those concerns, they say. Capacity delivery in the quarter shows a broadening data center build-out, while $30 billion of new AI contracts were largely prepaid, the analysts say. Discipline on spending and borrowing helped operating margin remain flat, they add. Oracle shares surge 7.1% premarket. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0912 GMT - Norsk Hydro's fourth-quarter Ebitda faces risks from disrupted natural-gas supply and cost uncertainty, J.P. Morgan analysts write. The Iran-U.S. conflict continues to impact the aluminum industry, after Norsk Hydro announced in August that disruptions to natural-gas supply at its Alunorte alumina refinery led to a temporary curtailment. That led management to implement contingency measures including purchasing natural-gas volumes at spot prices. While the impact on third-quarter earnings is material on its own, the bank remains concerned regarding the potential impact if Norsk Hydro needs to secure additional spot liquefied natural gas volumes into the fourth quarter. The bank downgrades Norsk Hydro stock to neutral from overweight and lowers its price target to 97 Norwegian kroner from 116 kroner. Shares fall 2% to 89.14 kroner. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0900 GMT - Questions linger over Richemont's long-term leadership, Alphavalue equity analyst Jie Zhang says after the Swiss luxury group appointed its powerful chairman's son to a senior role. Johann Rupert's son Anton was this week handed the role of nonexecutive co-deputy chairman of the group, which houses jewelers Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels and watchmakers including Piaget alongside fashion brands like Chloe. Anton Rupert has limited experience in luxury and while he may be a natural choice for a leadership role in the family-dominated business, the quality of that leadership remains largely untested, Zhang notes. "Greater visibility around succession therefore does not necessarily translate into lower execution risk," she cautions. Alphavalue has a reduce rating and a target price of 179 Swiss francs on Richemont stock. Shares rise 0.55% to 173.85 francs. (joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)

0847 GMT - Sweden's general election on Sunday is expected to be a close race as the gap between the governing right-wing bloc and left-centre opposition has narrowed in recent polls, Nordea analyst Joel Lundh writes. However, for financial markets and the Swedish krona, the election should be a non-event, he adds. "When reviewing historical election results, we find very little to no evidence in the election outcome, no matter if the government changes, impacting financial variables in the short term." (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0844 GMT - Energean is fairly valued, Berenberg analysts write, keeping a hold rating on the stock but slightly increasing the target price to 780 pence from 765 pence. The oil-and-gas company's first-half performance was solid and exploration efforts in Greece offer potential catalysts in early 2027, they say. However, the lower dividend outlook underwhelmed investors and net debt remains elevated against the company's target, they add. Shares fall 1% to 788.50 pence.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0829 GMT - BASF selling down its stake in Harbour Energy removes an overhang from the stock and is positive for the London-listed energy company, Barclays analyst Lydia Rainforth writes. The sale improves the stock's free float and reduces the risk of future large block disposals, she says. A major shareholder selling down its large stake is an important step for Harbour Energy, she adds. The company remains well positioned with a growing exposure to the U.S. as well as to high oil and gas prices, she says. The sale cuts BASF's stake to 16.4% from 24.3%. Harbour's shares fall 3% to 269.4 pence. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0815 GMT - A strong semiconductor market will be a boon to U.K. industrial stocks like Renishaw and XP Power, as AI-related demand continues to boost chip makers, Jefferies analysts say in a research note. Both Renishaw and XP Power are likely to upgrade their expectations, with semiconductor strength supporting a wider revenue recovery, the analysts say. Jefferies raises its recommendations on both stocks to buy from hold, and lifts its recommendation on peer Halma to hold from underperform. Halma's Avo Photonics business, which has benefited from AI demand in recent years, disappointed the market at the company's last update, the analysts say. XP Power shares jump 9.3%, while Renishaw's climb 3.4% and Halma's are up 0.7%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0809 GMT - Novartis shares still trade at premium to those in European pharmaceutical peers and the Swiss company needs to make progress on its drug pipeline to justify its valuation, Berenberg says. The drugmaker released results for its highly anticipated late-stage clinical trials a few days apart, with one hitting the goals and the other two missing them, Berenberg says. "Investor expectations for all three assets were high prompting a sharp negative--but fair--share price reaction," the analysts say. The next pipeline updates from Novartis include data from a late-stage study for remibrutinib in skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa and a midstage trial for QCZ484 in hypertension by year-end, they add. Berenberg lowers its target price on Novartis to 105 Swiss francs from 120 francs. Shares rise 0.6% to 112.80 francs.