Global Equities Roundup: Market Talk

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

0748 GMT - The euro rises 0.1% to $1.1243 against a weaker dollar, despite higher energy prices and growing concerns about French debt and civil unrest. "One can only conclude that the biggest market driver at the moment is the heavy and concentrated positioning in U.S. tech and the dollar, which is being gently pared back," ING's Chris Turner says in a note. Currency traders are likely to keep a close watch on the short-end of the Treasury yield curve, he says. Any tech worries that prompt markets to trim Federal Reserve interest-rate rise expectations, dragging short-end yields lower, could lead to a broader dollar correction, he says. In this case, the euro could break above $1.1270-$1.1275, which could open up a move to $1.1340-$1.1350, he says. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0748 GMT - Nestle's GLP-1 tailored products, mainly in frozen foods in the U.S. and at its nutrition business, are growing faster than the market, CEO Philipp Navratil says in a call with reporters. "This is obviously an R&D focus for us," the executive says after Nestle's third-quarter results. Shares are up 2.4% at 85.47 Swiss francs. (aimee.look@wsj.com)

0743 GMT - Rentokil Initial's key North American Pest Services unit posting organic growth in line with the prior quarter will be something of a relief for investors, J.P. Morgan analysts write. A combination of operational restructuring and broader challenges in the pest-control industry have clouded the company's outlook, they say. Shares rise 8.2% to 340.5 pence. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0742 GMT - Keppel DC REIT's Singapore portfolio seems crucial for its distribution-per-unit growth rate, DBS Group Research's Dale Lai says. He projects a 3.0% compound annual growth rate for the REIT's DPU over the next three years. The rent for assets in certain areas such as the so-called hyperscale segment have risen strongly in the past few years, supporting this portfolio, the analyst says. Lai raises his DPU growth estimates by 1%-2% in 2027-2028. Lai also expects a recent stake acquisition in two Japan data centers to boost the data-center-focused real-estate investment trust's earnings. DBS raises its target price to 2.55 Singapore dollars from S$2.50 and maintains a buy rating. Units rise 1.0% to S$2.06. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0736 GMT - European stock indexes slide in opening trade as higher oil prices and another tech wobble weigh on sentiment. Banks drop sharply, helping to drag the continent-wide Stoxx 600 down 2.1%. London's FTSE 100 is 0.7% lower as losses for miners and banks are somewhat buffered by rising energy stocks. The German DAX drops 0.9%, weighed by a 3% fall for AI-linked Siemens Energy and a 2.5% decline for Deutsche Bank. In Paris, the CAC 40 falls 1.25% as French government bond yields hit multidecade highs. Societe Generale drops 2.8%, while luxury names fall with Hermes tumbling 8% after earnings. Italy's FTSE MIB falls 1.3% while the Spanish IBEX 35 drops 1.4%. The Dutch AEX is 1% lower as semiconductor names fall. ASML drops 3%. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0715 GMT - Bitcoin edges lower as U.S. stock futures fall on rising oil prices and AI concerns. The increase in oil prices follows an escalation in Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and as data showed U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected in the week ended October 16. Meanwhile, Tesla shares fell in after-hours trade after it cut its 2026 capital expenditure target, raising fresh concerns about AI investments. Bitcoin falls 2.6% to $82,442, LSEG data show. Falls are limited, however, as the dollar and Treasury yields decline. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0710 GMT - Kasikornbank expects 2026 loan growth to be above its 0%-2% target, based on management commentary, says CGS International's Weerapat Wonk-Urai in a report. Management said more loans are likely to be drawn down in 4Q, including large corporate, housing and auto loans, the analyst notes. The Thai bank also expects its 4Q fee income growth to be driven by insurance and wealth management services. Moreover, management said the impact from recent floods in Thailand remains limited. The brokerage raises the stock's target price to 262.00 baht from 253.00 baht to reflect valuation roll-forward, with an unchanged add rating. Shares are 1.3% higher at 241.00 baht. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0701 GMT - Relx looks set to end the year on an even keel, Citi analysts say after the information, analytics and events group backed its full-year guidance on growth over the first nine months. Relx booked growth in all divisions over the period, though its exhibitions business was affected by Middle East tensions. The group reaffirmed its outlook for strong underlying revenue growth for the full year, implying, Citi says, consistent growth in the year's final quarter. "This update is likely to be viewed as confirmatory in nature," the bank says. ((joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby))

0659 GMT - Hermes's slowing sales growth in the third quarter doesn't come as a surprise, analysts at Bernstein say in a note. The French luxury company posted a 4.3% rise in third-quarter revenue compared with the same period last year, slowing from a 6.7% increase in the second quarter. "Hermes continues to suffer a difficult trading environment overall," the analysts say. (andrea.figueras@wsj.com)

0658 GMT - Pearson's third-quarter update is unlikely to prompt major changes to consensus estimates for the U.K. education company, Citi analysts say in a research note. The company reiterated its top-line outlook for 2026, and the midpoint of its narrowed adjusted operating profit guidance is aligned with consensus forecasts, Citi says. Pearson is also reorganizing its structure into four segments, which might give investors a clearer view of its growth drivers, the analysts say. That said, the company could face questions about the rationale for such a move, they add. Pearson plans to reinvest any savings arising from the reorganization. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0655 GMT - Roche Holding reported stronger-than-expected sales growth for the third quarter due to its pharmaceutical division, where most key drugs performed better than anticipated, Vontobel's Stefan Schneider says in a research note. Despite sales beating forecasts, the Swiss drugmaker left its full-year guidance unchanged, which shouldn't come as a surprise, the analyst says. The pharma business reported sales growth that was ahead of both Vontobel's and consensus estimates, while the group's diagnostics division fell short of expectations, he adds. With the exception of Ocrevus, other key drugs for Roche such as Hemlibra, Vabysmo and Phesgo beat expectations, according to Vontobel. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0641 GMT - The Nikkei Stock Average fell 2.65% to 62907.84, its lowest closing level since July 30, amid strong risk-off sentiment. "Investors questioned whether the latest round of AI earnings was strong enough to justify elevated valuations and continued heavy spending on computing infrastructure," InTouch Capital Markets analysts say in commentary. Also, "the growth sensitive backdrop was compounded by renewed geopolitical concerns," the analysts add. Among the worst performers on Japan's benchmark index, Resonac Holdings slid 11.2%, Ibiden dropped 9.5%, and Screen Holdings fell 8.8%. The dollar was at 157.10 yen versus Y158.14 around Wednesday's Tokyo market close. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2026 03:48 ET (07:48 GMT)