PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) reportedly extended its lead in the global DRAM market and accounted for 39.4% of revenue in Q2 2026

AUB Group (AUB AT) - Co. is facing renewed takeover speculation after former suitor EQT agreed to acquire a majority stake in London insurance broker McGill and Partners for USD 2bln. (The Australian)

Austal (ASB AT) - Co. confirmed preliminary takeover discussions with US-based Wildcat Infrastructure, although no formal proposal has been received, adding uncertainty around Hanwha’s existing takeover approach. (The Australian)

Iress (IRE AT) - Co. named Neil Montford as CFO, effective 16th November. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Santos (STO AT) - Co. will pay AUD 263mln to increase its stake in the AUD 19.5bln Papua LNG project as part of a series of deals with TotalEnergies paving the way for the project to proceed later this year. (AFR)

Australia’s major banks could face higher bad debts from the AUD 3.4bln collapse of property developer Bathla as contagion spreads to more than 1,000 subcontractors and workers who bank with the country’s four largest lenders. (AFR)

• Megaport (MP1 AT) price target raised 11% to AUD 24.60/shr by Citi.

Mitsui & Co. (8031 JT) - Co. has begun exporting electric buses manufactured in India by startup Pinnacle Mobility Solutions to Africa, using lower-cost production to compete with Chinese EV makers including BYD. (Nikkei)

Sony Group (6758 JT) - Co.’s plan to cease sales of physical PlayStation 5 game discs from January 2028 has drawn criticism from consumer advocates over ownership rights and reduced consumer choice. (Nikkei)

Toyota Motor (7203 JT) - Co. will end production of the Lexus UX in February next year. (Newswires)

Listed Japanese companies’ ROE fell in the fiscal year ended March despite record profits as the weak yen increased the value of overseas subsidiaries and boosted shareholders’ equity. (Nikkei)

Japanese shipping companies are developing vessels using hard sails and kites to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, including Mitsui OSK. Lines (9104 JT). (Nikkei)

Onomichi Dockyard plans to begin producing uncrewed surface vessels developed by US startup Bulwark Dynamics, targeting potential orders from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the US military. (Nikkei)

China imposed preliminary anti-dumping measures on Japanese dichlorosilane imports, requiring cash deposits of 99.2% for Shin-Etsu Chemical (4063 JT), 80.8% for Denal Silane and 99.2% for other Japanese producers. (Nikkei)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. extended its lead in the global DRAM market and accounted for 39.4% of revenue in Q2 2026. (Yonhap)

South Korea and France agreed to establish a cooperation channel covering strategic industries, trade and supply chains as they seek to deepen economic ties. (Yonhap)