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

0950 ET - The Swedish krona and South African rand are among the key beneficiaries after the U.S. and Iran agreed to an interim deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Deutsche Bank's George Saravelos says in a note. The krona is risk sensitive and responds positively to an improved global growth outlook, while Sweden is an energy importer. The rand should benefit from lower oil prices, a potential rebound in gold prices, a buffer of high real rates adjusted for inflation and an improving domestic backdrop, he says. The euro falls 0.2% to 10.8793 kronor. The dollar drops 0.7% to 16.1605 rand after hitting a three-month low of 16.1297 earlier, according to LSEG. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0929 ET - While there will likely be bumps in the road ahead, the U.S.-Iran agreement reduces the risk of dwindling oil inventories prompting a recession-inducing global energy-price spike, Oxford Economics' Ben May and Bridget Payne say in a note. However, it doesn't automatically point to a faster ramp-up in the amount of oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz than previously thought, they say. "We already assumed shipping through the strait would resume in late July. Nonetheless...our near-term oil price forecast now looks too high." Given the opening would likely cut inflation but produce only a limited economic boost, the news reinforces the views that the Federal Reserve and Bank of England won't hike rates, and that other central banks that have already raised rates won't do so again, they add. (edward.frankl@wsj.com)

0908 ET - SKF's automotive unit spinoff should see its shares re-rate upward, Deutsche Bank's John Kim writes. The bank's estimates for the second quarter are in line with consensus at the group level, with the expected automotive separation the larger driver for the share. Normal cyclicality for the Swedish ball-bearing maker has been distorted in 2025 and 2026 due to the start-stop nature of tariff changes as well as various periods of customer prebuying activity, it adds. Deutsche Bank continues to forecast a modest volume recovery in late 2026, with recent cost inflation more of a headwind in the second half. The bank lifts its target share price to 280 Swedish kronor from 275 kronor and keeps its buy rating. Shares rise 4.9% to 249.50 kronor. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0857 ET - Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch says about half of all television consumption now takes place within the streaming ecosystem, up from about 25% at the beginning of the decade. The high number of competing streaming services, though, makes for an increasingly fragmented landscape in which discovery and navigation are more complex, he continues. "We are seeing a clear consumer preference for aggregation," Murdoch says on a call with analysts. "Consumers are gravitating toward more unified experiences on their favorite platforms like Roku." Fox shares are off 14% premarket. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

0856 ET - The Federal Reserve's policy decision Wednesday will be crucial for cryptocurrencies, IG analyst Chris Beauchamp says in a note. The interim U.S.-Iran peace deal and lower oil prices change the game for Kevin Warsh's first meeting as the Fed's new chair, he says. "He can now go into the meeting arguing that the shock of higher energy costs will continue to fade, bolstering his argument for rate cuts." This would provide much-needed relief for cryptocurrencies after their recent selloff, even if a rate cut still looks unlikely this year, he says. Bitcoin rises to a 12-day high of $66,463, having reached a 20-month low of $59,125 on June 5, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0835 ET - Telia shares more than discount the Swedish telecommunications operator's growth in cash flow, Berenberg analysts write. A combination of cost cuts and stronger service revenue growth in Sweden has offset Telia's weaker trading in Finland and Norway, the bank says. "We expect solid momentum in 2026, and for Telia to reach free cash flow of 10 billion Swedish kronor from 2027." Telia's share price has risen by 97% since new management joined in late 2023/early 2024, outperforming the sector by 23% and leaving the stock at a premium, Berenberg says. Other telecoms companies now offer greater potential savings and clearer benefits from consolidation, it adds. Berenberg downgrades the Telia stock rating to sell from hold and lifts its price target to 40 kronor from 31 kronor. Shares fall 3.5% to 49.88 kronor. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0833 ET - The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur group of South American nations opens up opportunities for Spain's industry and services, though questions remain regarding its impact on agriculture, BBVA's Angie Suarez and Marco Antonio Vizarreta say. The agreement will reduce tariffs on 90% of bilateral trade over 15 years, generating annual savings of more than 4 billion euros for European companies, they say in a note. For Spain, the deal should raise GDP by 0.2% once the agreement is fully implemented, with Mercosur a supplier of energy, agrifood inputs and critical raw materials. The Basque Country and Madrid will gain from their industrial exports, while Andalusia and the Canary Islands will benefit from their imports of energy and raw materials from the bloc, they say. (edward.frankl@wsj.com)

0816 ET - Fox says its $22 billion purchase of Roku will create the third-largest player in the U.S. television market in terms of share of viewers. "This is a defining moment for Fox," CEO Lachlan Murdoch says. Roku's platform reaches more than 100 million households globally. "The combination with Fox is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our vision, scale faster and innovate more aggressively for viewers, partners and advertisers," Roku CEO Anthony Wood says. Wood will have an ongoing role at the combined company, as well as a seat on the Fox board following the deal's closure. Fox shares sink 13% premarket. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

0807 ET - Uncertainties over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should prevent the U.S. dollar--traditionally a safe-haven currency--from falling more significantly for now, Rabobank's Jane Foley says in a note. The U.S. and Iran have agreed on an interim peace deal and President Trump said the Strait would reopen Friday. However, the complications implied by mines and delays in redistributing shipping mean there will be no normalization of oil supply through the Strait for an extended period, Foley says. The market has pared expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate rises, but also for European Central Bank tightening, tempering the impact on the euro versus the dollar, she says. The euro rises 0.4% to $1.1610. The DXY dollar index drops 0.2% to 99.525. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0750 ET - Fox's acquisition of Roku could pivot the company toward streaming and create a leader in free ad-supported streaming, JPMorgan analysts say in a research note. "The company is already in streaming and a contender in the (free ad-supported streaming) space with Tubi, but has expressed frustration at times with investor recognition on this point," the analysts write. "A Roku deal would fundamentally pivot the business toward digital and answer long-term concerns about a legacy in PayTV." The analysts say Fox stands to benefit from gaining digital distribution into over 100 million homes for its network, news and sports programming. Though, they warn Roku ownership and integration could bring execution risk and complication to what is otherwise a relatively straightforward narrative. Fox shares sink 13% premarket. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

0747 ET - If the peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran endures, the Bank of England should be able to avoid a rate hike this summer, James Smith at ING says in a note. With energy prices now falling, inflation is likely to stay below 4%--an important line in the sand for the central bank. "Markets now price just a 25% chance of a July hike and only one rate increase this year, down from a peak of three," Smith says. In addition, the risk of second-round inflation effects remains limited, he adds. "That's ultimately why we expect a return to rate cuts in 2027--something markets aren't currently pricing." Still, this could change if the U.S.-Iran deal unravels or fails to prevent another summer energy spike, Smith says. (don.forbes@wsj.com)

0731 ET - Despite a peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, economic output in the Gulf still faces the worst downturn since the early 1980s, Jason Tuvey at Capital Economics says in a note. Gulf GDP is expected to fall by around 5% to 6% in 2026, with Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain the hardest hit, Tuvey says. A return to normal energy flows could stretch into 2027, the analyst says. Economic diversification in the region will now become tougher, while geopolitical relationships could face a reshuffling, Tuvey says. Gulf countries may now be incentivized to ramp up output, which could push oil prices down to around $50 a barrel, he adds. "Over a longer horizon, even if the war is drawing to a close, it will leave a lasting legacy." (don.forbes@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 15, 2026 09:50 ET (13:50 GMT)

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