Global Equities Roundup: Market Talk

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

0754 GMT - Deutsche Telekom's performance in Germany along with its buyback increase should be welcomed by the market, Berenberg analysts write in a note. The German telecommunications company lifted its full-year share buyback plan by up to 3 billion euros. This shows how the company plans to use the strong cash it is generating and suggests that a reported move to buy the remaining minority stake in T-Mobile US is less likely, they say. Additionally, DT has delivered a strong set of second-quarter results in its German segment, they add. Shares are up 5.1% at 28.86 euros. (najat.kantouar@wsj.com)

0745 GMT - Bodycote's private-equity suitors aren't offering generous prices, in another example of bidders taking advantage of a harsh market for U.K. industrial stocks, RBC Capital Markets' Mark Fielding writes. CVC and Veritas are separately offering around 1.56 billion pounds to take the heat-treatment company private, and Bodycote's board said it would likely recommend both to shareholders. The proposals from CVC and Veritas value Bodycote at 907.8 pence and 906.8 pence respectively--excluding a 7.2 pence interim dividend--and are a 21% premium to the company's last closing price before takeover interest was disclosed. "We have previously argued that bids for Dowlais and recently Rotork have undervalued quality industrial assets that have been harshly derated in the U.K. market," the analyst say. Bodycote shares are down 1.0% at 914 pence. (michael.hennessey@wsj.com)

0746 GMT - Harbour Energy posts a positive first-half update as integration of the LLOG portfolio in the U.S. helps deliver record production, Berenberg analysts write. Production growth coincides with a supportive macroeconomic backdrop that is driving cash flow and cutting net debt, they write. The energy company is also making good progress on longer-term growth projects, especially in Mexico and Argentina, they say. Harbour bought Louisiana-based LLOG Exploration in a $3.2 billion deal last December. Shares rise 3.7% to 241 pence.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0739 GMT - Rheinmetall's second-quarter results leave a lot for investors to take in after the German arms maker lowered sales, capex and backlog guidance for the year, JPMorgan analysts write in a research note. The group expects annual sales between 13.7 billion and 14.2 billion euros compared with prior guidance between 14 billion and 14.5 billion euros. Capex was downscaled to a range of 8% to 9% from 16% of sales. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall's backlog is now expected above 100 billion euros this year compared with around 135 billion euros previously. Rheinmetall shares trade 0.2% higher at 1,203.40 euros. (mauro.orru@wsj.com)

0728 GMT - Harbour Energy is delivering operational excellence as first-half earnings demonstrate the benefits of the rapid integration of its U.S. assets, Barclays analyst Lydia Rainforth writes. With conflict in the Middle East pushing oil and gas prices higher, Harbour has upgraded its free cash flow guidance. It has also launched a $250 million buyback for 2026 and has scope for further returns later in the year, she says. Shares rise 3.7% to 241 pence. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0725 GMT - Henkel's expectations-topping first-half earnings marked a strong update, Jefferies's David Hayes says. The German consumer-goods and adhesives group nudged up its sales-growth guidance for the year after revenue came in ahead of analysts' estimates, driven by the adhesives business. The results support Henkel versus its peers, Hayes says. Shares gain 3.6% to 79.30 euros. (joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)

0723 GMT - European stock indexes rise in early trade as earnings stories drive increases. The Europe-wide Stoxx 600 adds 0.3%, led by consumer-facing stocks and healthcare. London's FTSE 100 moves 0.3% higher, led by a 10.6% gain for Metlen Energy after earnings. In Paris, the CAC 40 is 0.75% higher as luxuries rally after falls in the last session. Hermes adds 3.4%, while sector bellwether LVMH gains 1.3%. The German DAX slips 0.1%, as Siemens falls 5.5% after reporting earnings, while other industrials weaken. Deutsche Telekom rises 5.8%, however, after upping its buyback. ASML slips 0.7% as tech weakness in Asia extends into Europe, dragging on the Dutch AEX. The index trades flat. Italy's FTSE MIB rises 0.5%, while the Spanish IBEX 35 gains 0.9%.(josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0724 GMT - SK Telecom could post a sharp earnings recovery with its operating profit margin likely to top 11% this year for the first time in 13 years, says Jeong Won-seok of Shinyoung Securities. The South Korean telecom operator's results last year were weighed by one-off factors, including a 50% cut in telecommunications charges following a data breach and workforce restructuring in 2H 2025, the analyst says in a note. Jeong expects SK Telecom's operating profit to jump 80% to 1.931 trillion won this year, with its operating profit margin widening to 11.1% in 2026 from 6.3% in 2025. That would mark its first operating profit margin above 11% since 2013, he notes. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0720 GMT - WPP's second-quarter performance was better than expected, Bernstein's Annick Maas and Christophe Cherblanc say in a research note. The half-year results from the U.K. advertising group are marked by a smaller-than-expected decline in like-for-like revenues less pass-through costs of 2.8%, Bernstein says. That said, WPP's decline compares with organic growth from peers Publicis Groupe and Havas, the analysts say. WPP's full-year guidance implies a deceleration in the second half, which is explained by severance payments and the timing effects of net new business intake, they add. Shares jump 15%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0711 GMT - A fresh pair of hands at the top of Heineken should boost delivery and support a share recovery at the Dutch brewer, Edward Mundy at Jefferies writes in a note to clients. The maker of Amstel and Desperados, as well as its namesake lager label, booked better-than-expected volumes and earnings growth for the first half, despite admitting some weakness in the Americas and Europe. New CEO Rafael Oliveira, due to take over in October, will meanwhile bring a "fresh pair of eyes and renewed energy for delivery," Mundy says. "We see deep change underway at Heineken as the company sharpens execution and harvests cost savings," he says. Jefferies has a buy rating and a target of 100 euros on the Amsterdam-listed stock. Shares are up 0.1% at 79.50 euros. (joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)

0659 GMT - Toll-road operator Transurban keeps its trim rating at Morgans, where analyst Nathan Lead looks to another Australian infrastructure stock for potential clues on valuation. Lead continues to lean bearish on the stock but stops short of implementing a sell recommendation. He tells clients in a note that he largely agrees with Transurban's assessment that toll overhauls in New South Wales state are value neutral. However, he sees earnings growth constrained by weakness in its Melbourne assets, and thinks that interest costs will rise quicker than consensus expects. He believes dividends could grow at a similar rate to those at pipeline operator APA. Lead adds that a rerating to APA's yield would price Transurban's stock at about 12 Australian dollars. Morgans cuts its target price 0.9% to A$12.63. Shares closed 0.75% lower at A$14.59. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

0654 GMT - Henkel shares could get a boost from a strong second quarter, analysts at J.P. Morgan write in a note. The German consumer-goods group, which produces adhesives, haircare lines, and laundry products, booked 4.7% organic sales growth over the April-June period, picking up pace from the year's first quarter and beating analysts' estimates. Henkel, meanwhile, nudged up its sales guidance for the year. "While the shares have performed strongly into results we would expect the print to be supportive of the shares," JPM says. (joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 06, 2026 03:55 ET (07:55 GMT)