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

0248 GMT - Sunway Construction's job wins are expected to remain strong, with its 14 billion ringgit tender book providing further data-center opportunities, Maybank IB analyst Yin Shao Yang says in a note. The latest 1.04 billion mechanical, electrical & plumbing contract brings year-to-date job wins to a record 6.9 billion ringgit, or 98% of his full-year estimate. Yin raises annual job-win assumptions to 8.0 billion ringgit from 7.0 billion ringgit for 2026-2028, lifting its earnings and dividend forecasts by 2%-13%. Maybank maintains a buy rating on Sunway Construction and keeps target price at 9.62 ringgit. Shares are 2.7% higher at 8.11 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0241 GMT - Chandra Asri Pacific's bull at Maybank Sekuritas Indonesia is upbeat on the Indonesian energy and chemical company's ability to execute countercyclical acquisitions and boost its long-term value. The company signed a conditional deal to buy Jardine Cycle & Carriage's automotive business in Singapore and Malaysia, marking its entry into the broader mobility value chain and another step in its diversification strategy, the Maybank analysts say in a note. The potential deal's contribution could lift Chandra Asri's 2026-2027 earnings by 3%-5% and boost its earnings resilience, they add. Meanwhile, elevated refining margins should also support the company's near-term earnings, they add. Maybank maintains its buy rating and 2,600 rupiah target price. Shares fall 0.5% to 2,020 rupiah.(megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0227 GMT - Mapletree Industrial Trust's appointment a new chief executive of the manager will likely sharpen its focus on so-called hyperscaler data centers, given the incoming head's current role within the Singapore REIT's sponsor, Citi analyst Brandon Lee says in a note. Anand Tze Ming Chandran, Mapletree Investments' head of data centers for Asia-Pacific, will be the REIT manager's new CEO from October. His experience suggests the REIT is likely to look into data-center acquisition opportunities in Asia and Europe, which currently account for 11% and none, respectively, of its assets under management, says Lee. Citi retains its buy rating and 2.16 Singapore dollar target price on Mapletree Industrial. Units gain 0.5% to S$1.93. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0214 GMT - Dagang NeXchange is expected to deliver a stronger performance in 2H, particularly in its semiconductor segment, TA Securities' Chan Mun Chun says in a note. Higher average selling prices, additional production capacity and a more favorable product mix will all contribute to the stronger performance. Demand for silicon photonics products should remain robust amid the AI and data-center boom, the analyst says. Management expects 2H semiconductor selling prices to rise 5%-10%, with new equipment progressively increasing wafer capacity, he notes. The energy segment is also set to benefit from the planned October startup of a brownfield reactivation project in Malaysia's Terengganu state, he adds. TA Securities maintains a buy rating and a 0.66 ringgit target price on Dagang NeXchange. Shares fall 2.0% to 0.50 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0136 GMT - Dialog Group's FY 2027 growth should be supported by the 150,000 cubic meter storage terminal Dialog Terminal Langsat 3 expansion, targeted for completion in September, Affin Hwang IB analyst Tze Hern Ong says in a note. Growth should also benefit from a 27.8%-owned LNG-linked air separation unit, expected to be completed by late 2026. However, 1Q FY 2027 earnings could moderate sequentially as the 35 million ringgit JV dividend income in previous quarter is unlikely to recur, he adds. Ong raises Dialog's FY 2027-2028 EPS forecasts by 6%-9%. Affin Hwang raises Dialog's target price to 2.65 ringgit from 2.60 ringgit, while maintaining a buy rating on the stock. Shares are 1.0% lower at 1.97 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0118 GMT - Samsung Electronics' 2026 shareholder return program--estimated by the company at 90 trillion won to 110 trillion won--is seen as falling short of market expectations, Kyobo Securities' Choi Bo-young says. Investors had previously expected the South Korean tech giant to return up to 140 trillion won to shareholders this year, the analyst writes in a note. Although Samsung says it will be its biggest-ever shareholder return, Choi says the plan is unlikely to come as a "surprise" to investors. Samsung has approved 30 trillion won in 3Q dividends and 15 trillion won in a new share buyback for employee compensation, with other shareholder-return details to come later. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0013 GMT - The Nikkei Stock Average edged 0.3% higher to 66212.61, tracking Wall Street's gains on Friday. Japanese stocks swung between mild gains and losses as investors digested the U.S.-Canada trade spat. Late Friday, talks between the two countries to reach a deal collapsed at the 11th hour, spurring prospects that the dispute between neighbors with almost $900 billion-a-year trading relationship could become an all-out trade war. Among best performers on Japan's benchmark index, JX Advanced Metals rose 3.3%, Screen Holdings added 3.1%, and BayCurrent advanced 3.0%. The dollar is at 158.85 yen, compared with Y158.50 around Friday's Tokyo market close. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

2352 GMT - Shares of fuel refiner and marketer Ampol should trade well today, says Jefferies. That's because Ampol's 1H result was even better than its initial announcement at end-July. Ampol reported Ebit of A$1.39 billion, above the A$1.35 billion signaled weeks earlier. Analyst Michael Simotas says an interim dividend of A$1.85/share is better than expected. He also likes double-digit Convenience Retail Ebit growth in 1H and persistent strength in refining. "Recent retail fuel margin weakness called out by Ampol is readily observable from market data and we agree with management that it's temporary," Jefferies says. Key questions for investors include whether there has been a structural lift in wholesale margins and the outlook for shareholder distributions, it says. Ampol ended last week at A$39.85. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)

2349 GMT - PLS's stronger-than-anticipated dividend is partly offset by slightly softer-than-expected net profit and earnings per share, says Citi. It says PLS's Ngungaju ramp-up and P2000 project are now the focus for investors. "P2000 feasibility study outcomes remain due in the December quarter, with A$175 million of pre-FID [final investment decision] expenditure included in FY27 guidance but potential post-FID capital excluded," Citi says. It reiterates a buy rating and A$5.00 target. Shares ended Friday at A$5.07. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2343 GMT - Japanese stocks may consolidate as investors digest the U.S.-Canada trade spat. Late Friday, talks between the two countries to reach a deal collapsed at the 11th hour, spurring prospects that the dispute between neighbors with almost $900 billion-a-year trading relationship could become an all-out trade war. Nikkei futures opened 5 points lower at 66060 on the SGX. The dollar is at 158.97 yen, compared with Y158.50 around Friday's Tokyo market close. The Nikkei Stock Average closed 0.3% lower at 66016.36 on Friday. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

2342 GMT - NIB's share price could weaken today, says Citi. That's because NIB's Australian residents health insurance business disappointed in FY26. NIB reported soft margins within its arhi business. NIB guides to a stable annual underlying net margin of 6-7%. It also projects policyholder growth of 1.9%. "We note the moderation in growth and elevated lapse rates of 16.2% could be in part due to its repositioning to higher value silver customers," analyst Nigel Pittaway says. "However, it also likely reflects industry trends and is something nib will need to focus on moving forward." Citi expects the market to place more weight on the arhi disappointment than a recovery in New Zealand, core EPS beat and A$0.05/share special dividend. "We wouldn't be surprised to see the stock trade flat to down today," Citi says. (david.winning@wsj.com; @dwinningWSJ)

2337 GMT - Australian stocks look set to rise at the open, recovering some ground lost last week. Local futures are up by 0.5% ahead of Monday's session, suggesting that the S&P/ASX 200 will rally from a 0.3% slip that wrapped up a 0.6% weekly decline. The benchmark index is still up by 0.9% in August and on track for a fifth consecutive monthly rise. Ahead of the open, personal-protective equipment maker Ansell beat annual earnings expectations and flagged more growth. Miner PLS surprised analysts by reinstating its dividend. Alcohol retailer Endeavour reported a 15% drop in annual underlying profit. U.S. stocks rose Friday, providing a positive lead. The DJIA rose 1.0%, the S&P 500 gained 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.4%.