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

0736 GMT - European energy stocks open lower as oil prices slip. Brent crude and WTI have fallen as investors assess the likelihood that U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts could reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures are down 1.1% to $105.45 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fall 1.9% to $92.85 a barrel. In London, BP falls 2% and Shell drops 0.4%. France's TotalEnergies is 0.8% lower and Spain's Repsol is down 0.6%. Italy's Eni falls 0.2%. Norway's Equinor is down 1.3%. (adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0731 GMT - European stock indexes open in the green, boosted by a rally in AI-linked stocks. Banks and mining stocks also gain as the Stoxx 600 rises 0.7%. The semiconductor-heavy AEX adds 0.6% in Amsterdam, with ASML jumping 2.3%. Peers ASM International and BE Semiconductor add 2% and 1.4%, respectively. In Paris, the CAC 40 gains 0.4%, boosted by a 3.1% jump for chip maker STMicroelectronics. Societe Generale gains 2.4%. Metals miners lift London's FTSE 100 up 0.5%, while the German DAX rises 0.7%. Deutsche Bank gains 2.2%, while data center energy provider Siemens Energy rises 2.1%. Banks lift Italian and Spanish indexes, with the FTSE MIB up 1.1% and the Ibex 35 gaining 0.8%. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0730 GMT - CSE Global's new contracts likely have stronger margins than those from its hyperscaler-related orders, CGS International's Tan Jie Hui and Lim Siew Khee sayin a note. The Singapore technology company announced two electrification order wins totaling US$150 million, spanning liquefied-natural-gas and data-center power infrastructure, the analysts say. They estimate the contracts' blended Ebitda margins at around 10%, as they require greater customization than the hyperscaler ones. These order wins could also help CSE Global deepen key relationships in U.S. LNG and hyperscale power infrastructure sectors beyond its current customer Amazon Web Services, they add. CGSI retains its add rating and target price of 1.95 Singapore dollars. Shares rise 0.8% to S$1.27. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0726 GMT - Oil prices tick lower as traders weigh signs of diplomatic progress to end the Middle East war against renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. In early European trading, front-month Brent crude is down 0.7% to $105.90 a barrel, while WTI futures fall 1.5% to $93.28 a barrel. An attempted Houthi strike on Thursday revived concerns over potential disruptions to Saudi energy infrastructure and regional supply routes. However, gains were limited by reports that the U.S. and Iran are exploring a phased framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "Optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran truce encouraged profit-taking," analysts at brokerage Kotak Neo say. "Near-term direction will depend on the progress of negotiations, further Houthi activity and upcoming inventory data." (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0658 GMT - Var Energi's deal to buy BlueNord strengthens the equity story well beyond the announced synergies, Citi analyst Tianhong Bi writes. Var Energi announced a deal in July to buy Oslo-listed peer BlueNord in a cash and stock deal valued at around $1.3 billion. Citi says Var shares have undergone a significant rerating since this time last year, but the bank still sees further upside as BlueNord extends cash-flow potential and strengthens confidence in the new 450,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day production ambition. "The combination broadens the resource base, reduces reliance on the higher-decline Norwegian portfolio and creates a 2nd infrastructure-led development engine in Denmark." Citi raises its target price to 57 Norwegian kroner from 48 kroner and keeps buy rating. Shares closed at 53.28 kroner. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0647 GMT - Bumitama Agri's stock has scope for further valuation rerating if the palm oil producer is able to deliver consistent earnings growth, says DBS Group Research's William Simadiputra in a note. Crude palm oil prices are likely to remain above US$1,000 a metric ton through 2027, boosted by El Nino-related supply risks and elevated crude oil prices, he says. The analyst expects the company to have a solid performance in 2026, citing its ability to preserve margins despite external fruit purchases and rising fertilizer prices. DBS raises the stock's target price to 3.00 Singapore dollars from S$2.30 after rolling forward its valuation and maintains a buy rating. Shares are down 1.8% at S$2.16. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

0547 GMT - Nordic markets are seen opening slightly higher with IG calling the OMXS30 up 0.4% at around 3284. Brent crude hit $108 yesterday, but has since fallen by around $2 following reports that the U.S. and Iran are discussing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, SEB macro strategist Gustav Helgesson writes. The global rise in bond yields continues, particularly in the U.S., where the 10-year yield touched 5.2% yesterday and the 30-year reached 5.5%, he adds. "Despite an unusually warm reception, there were few new concrete agreements during China's first state visit to the U.S. in ten years." U.S. and European equity futures point to a positive opening. OMXS30 closed at 3271.26, OMXN40 at 2614.61, and OBX at 2012.06. (dominic.chopping@wsj.com)

0527 GMT - HelloFresh cut its full-year outlook after its back-to-school campaign yielded disappointing new-customer numbers, which raises questions about its marketing strategy, Stifel's Clement Genelot says in a research note. "[Full-year] guidance was known to be entirely dependent on the success of the back-to-school marketing campaign. But the explanation provided by HelloFresh raises even more questions about its ability to properly manage its marketing strategy, which will be key in any commercial inflection," the analyst says. The German meal-kit company attributed the profit warning to deeper cuts to its marketing spending in the third quarter than in the first half. This should raise questions about HelloFresh's ability to manage the strategy and rethink marketing channels, Genelot adds.