PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCK NEWS: Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Hynix (000660 KS) and Micron (MU) were reportedly scaling back or scrapping plans to commercialise controllers for CXL expansion devices

AUSTRALIA

Alkane Resources (ALK AT) - Co. produced 42,491 ounces of gold equivalent in Q4 and declared an FY26 dividend of AUD 0.02/shr. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Charter Hall Group (CHC AT) - Co. is reportedly cooling market expectations of a potential deal involving Dexus after two conditions thought likely to trigger a move disappeared. (The Australian)

Hub24 (HUB AT) - Co. reported Q4 platform net inflows of AUD 4.2bln and FY platform net inflows of AUD 18.9bln, while platform funds under administration rose 24% Y/Y and 9% Q/Q to AUD 139.5bln. (Dow Jones Newswires)

NextDC (NXT AT) - Co. reported pro forma contracted utilisation of 740MW and a pro forma forward order book of 565MW at June 30, and maintained FY26 revenue, EBITDA and capex guidance. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Qantas Airways (QAN AT) - Co.’s international pilots are set to vote on strike action for the first time in 15 years as its AUD 330mln Project Sunrise aircraft makes its debut flight to Australia. (The Australian)

Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX AT) - Co. dosed the first patient in its Phase 3 LUTEON trial of TLX250-Tx for renal cancer. (Dow Jones Newswires)

Broker Ratings/Price Target

Atlas Arteria (ALX AT) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform by Macquarie.
Aurelia Metals (AMI AT) price target raised 5% to AUD 0.45/shr by Macquarie.
Helia Group (HLI AT) price target cut 2.7% to AUD 3.60/shr by Macquarie.
REA Group (REA AT) price target raised 6.5% to AUD 165.00/shr by Macquarie.
Regis Resources (RRL AT) price target cut 11% to AUD 8.45/shr by Bell Potter.

JAPAN

Honda Motor (7267 JT) - Co. extended its joint venture agreement with Guangzhou Automobile Group by 10 years through 2038 as it seeks to maintain its presence in China despite a sharp decline in sales. (Nikkei)

Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (4028 JT) - Co. plans to double production capacity for titanium dioxide used in ceramic capacitors for artificial intelligence servers. (Nikkei)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012 JT) - Co. proposed using hydrogen to produce synthetic naphtha as disruptions to petrochemical supplies continue amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (Nikkei)

Kyocera (6971 JT) - Co. expects demand for chipmaking components to continue growing through 2030 and will assess the outlook as it considers additional capacity. (Nikkei)

Mitsubishi Corporation (8058 JT) - Co. is considering investments of more than USD 600mln in food-related businesses, including a project with Archer Daniels Midland to produce sustainable aviation fuel. (Nikkei)

Sumitomo Chemical (4005 JT) - Co. plans to mass-produce a halide-based material for solid-state electric-vehicle batteries, which it views as cheaper and easier to handle than alternative materials. (Nikkei)

Other News

Japan plans to create a senior government position to coordinate efforts to establish domestic technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors, as international standards. (Nikkei)

SOUTH KOREA

Hanwha Solutions (009830 KS) - Co. finalised its rights offering at KRW 1.2tln, around half its original fundraising target, with the final subscription price set at KRW 22,100/shr. (Yonhap)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. launched its first US credit card, offering cash rewards through a mobile-wallet experience. (Press Release)

Homeplus - Co. appealed a Seoul court’s decision to terminate its corporate rehabilitation proceedings as it seeks to revive the supervised restructuring process. (Yonhap)

Tech - Samsung Electronics (005930 KS), SK Hynix (000660 KS) and Micron (MU) were reportedly scaling back or scrapping plans to commercialise controllers for CXL expansion devices. (Newswires)