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

0342 GMT - Malaysia's automotive sector's outlook could be supported by strong sales from national carmakers Perodua and Proton, Hong Leong IB analyst Daniel Wong says in a note. Perodua is expected to sustain its sales in 2026, supported by its strong position in the affordable segment, while Proton should benefit from demand for its new Saga model and affordable EV and plug-in hybrid EV models, he says. Wong raises Malaysia's 2026 auto sales estimate to 800,000 units from 780,000 units expected previously, reflecting stronger national car sales. Hong Leong maintains an overweight rating on Malaysian automotive sector and pegs MBM Resources and Sime Darby as its top picks. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0256 GMT - Iron ore futures are higher following their recent correction. The ferrous metal continues to be constrained by weak China demand, say ANZ Research analysts in a report. They point to deteriorating steel margins weighing on production and subdued property indicators keeping steel consumption soft. However, seasonally strong steel exports are helping offset some domestic weakness, they add. The most-traded iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange is up 1.2% at 715.0 yuan a ton.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)

0241 GMT - Palm oil falls in Asian trading amid profit-taking. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for November delivery is down 2 ringgit at 4,858 ringgit a ton. However, technical analysis suggests that the prevailing uptrend in CPO futures remains intact, AmInvestment Bank says in a note. Any intraday pullback toward support levels is likely to attract buying interest unless external markets weaken significantly, it adds. AmInvestment Bank expects palm oil prices to face resistance at 4,889 ringgit a ton and find support at 4,813 ringgit a ton. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0205 GMT - BHP could be expected to take "a more cash flow-oriented approach" to dividends ahead, as commodity prices trade above long-term averages, Macquarie says. BHP has a policy of paying a minimum of 50% of underlying profit at every reporting period. The miner surprised with a final dividend of US$0.99/share, a 72% payout ratio. Macquarie attributes the beat--22% higher than consensus--to stronger free cash flow and proceeds from a silver-streaming deal. The bank raises its target on BHP by roughly 6% to 58.50 Australian dollars a share. It reiterates a neutral rating. Shares are down 0.1% at A$63.81 following a 2.7% gain Tuesday. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

0043 GMT - Copper edges lower in Asian trade. A sudden influx of metal into warehouses likely eased concerns of physical tightness, ANZ Research analysts say in a note. They cite the London Metal Exchange's global warehouse network posting the biggest increase in readily-available copper inventories since April. Traders have been tracking the base metal as a surge in shipments to the U.S.--spurred by the prospect of U.S. import tariffs--has reduced stockpiles underpinning the global benchmark contracts, the analysts say. The market is waiting for the results of a U.S. report into the copper industry that was completed in July, they add. The three-month copper contract on the LME drops 0.1% to $13,969.00 a metric ton. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0037 GMT - Gold gains in early Asian trade, recouping some losses caused by Tuesday's global bond rout. The precious metal moves towards $4,400 a troy ounce as weaker labor data and a softer inflation print helped ease expectations for rate increases by the Federal Reserve, say ANZ Research analysts. Physical demand, particularly from China, together with steady central bank buying, continues to underpin the market, they add. Spot gold is up 0.2% at $4,341.94 an ounce. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

1951 GMT - Live cattle futures on the CME snapped a five-session losing streak, closing up 0.2% to $2.1915 a pound. The Tyson beef plant closures and weak cash prices are the "major headwinds" of that streak, says the Hightower Report in a note -- with the firm projecting that "the recent downtrend may have more to run." Lean hog futures sank 2.3% on the day, to 70.825 cents a pound. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1903 GMT - Oil futures edge up in cautious trading as the market weighs conflicting reports of how much oil is getting through the Strait of Hormuz. "Extraordinary workarounds are compensating for a badly impaired shipping route," Siebert Financial's chief investment officer Mark Malek says in a note. "Alternative oil routes demonstrate impressive resilience, but resilience is not the same as excess capacity." Tanker relays and pipelines can buy time but don't replace unrestricted access through the strait, he says. U.S. government figures suggest considerably more oil is escaping the region than vessel-tracking data would seem to indicate, Malek adds. "When the official number and the observable number disagree by this much, the observable number usually wins the argument eventually." WTI settles up 0.5% at $84.94 a barrel and Brent rises 0.2% to $91.02. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1901 GMT - U.S. natural gas futures rise as weather models add some heat to the near-term outlook, while LNG feedgas flows continue recovering. "This market will remain heavily reliant upon a long-awaited upswing in export activity once LNG infrastructure maintenance is completed but for now, the short supply in Europe that has been boosting gas prices remains largely inoperable as a supportive consideration to the U.S. market," Ritterbusch & Associates says in a note. For now the market "appears too late to sell but a bit too early to buy," the firm adds. Nymex natural gas settles up 3.2% at $2.776/mmBtu.(anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1830 GMT - Gold and silver futures settle lower for the day, as bonds sell off and Treasury yields rise to multi-year highs. As a longer-term war with Iran looms over the market, precious metals haven't been behaving as safe-haven assets, but that may be changing. "Gold tends to benefit when policy signals become harder to interpret," says Michael Widmer of Bank of America in a note. Widmer also says demand has been resilient, although it'll take higher demand from ETFs to drive an upside price breakout. Front-month gold falls 1.2% to $4,366/oz, while silver loses 3.3% to $63.941/oz. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1634 GMT - The CME is changing the price limits that govern how much lean hog futures can move in any direction. The exchange says that effective Aug. 31, the new initial price limit for lean hog futures will be 4.25 cents a pound, down from the current limit of 4.75 cents a pound. The expanded limit will now be 6.25 cents a pound. The expanded limit will become the active limit for the day after the initial limit is reached in the prior trading session.The CME adds that price limits will not be enforced on front-month lean hog contracts during their last two trading days. Lean hog futures are down 2.7% to 70.58 cents a pound. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1559 GMT - CBOT corn futures started the day on a higher note due to less-than-optimal yields reported from the first day of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, but that uptick evaporates as the morning progresses. Most-active corn futures are now down 0.2%. "Corn was up early in the session on more inflation buying by funds, but fell off on U.S. old crop farmer selling," says Charlie Sernatinger of Marex in a note. "It feels like we have made our range for the day." Corn started the day at $4.92 a bushel, which for many farmers is over the break-even price they need to have profitable corn acres come harvest season. Soybeans are up 0.7%, and wheat falls 0.3%.