PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCK NEWS: SoftBank Group (9984 JP)-backed PayPay will enter the life insurance business as early as October 2027 through the acquisition of T&D Financial Life Insurance for USD 839mln

AUSTRALIA

Cedar Woods Properties (CWP AT) - Co. bought three development sites for a total of AUD 63.5mln and said it is on track for the top end of FY26 earnings guidance. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Euroz Hartleys Group (EZL AT) - Co. confirmed it is in discussions with BMO Financial Group regarding a potential transaction for its Capital Markets unit valued at approximately AUD 145mln. (Newswires)

Megaport (MP1 AT) - Co. said its institutional offer raised AUD 518mln and it will issue 36.2mln new shares. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Monadelphous Group (MND AT) - Co. was awarded an AUD 380mln contract by CS Energy for work related to the construction of the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

NIB Holdings (NHF AT) - Co. agreed to sell its Australia and New Zealand travel insurance businesses to Allianz Partners for up to AUD 50mln and enter a strategic distribution partnership, with the transaction expected to close by the end of 2026 subject to regulatory approval. (Newswires)

Origin Energy (ORG AT) - Co. boss warned power prices are rising as energy transition costs bite. (The Australian)

Perpetual (PPT AT) - Co. will acquire a 70% stake in Interfi Services, a privately owned asset servicing technology business with about AUD 55bln of assets under administration. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Resolute Mining (RSG AT) - Co. expects FY Syama gold output around the lower end of guidance after logistical and supply chain disruptions affected 2Q production. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Broker Ratings/Price Target

ANZ Group (ANZ AT) price target cut 6.1% to AUD 34.00/shr by Morgan Stanley.
Bank of Queensland (BOQ AT) price target cut 1.6% to AUD 6.30/shr by Morgan Stanley.
Bendigo & Adelaide Bank (BEN AT) price target cut 3.0% to AUD 9.80/shr by Morgan Stanley.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AT) price target cut 3.8% to AUD 125.00/shr by Morgan Stanley.
Megaport (MP1 AT) price target raised 41% to AUD 22.10/shr by Citi.
National Australia Bank (NAB AT) price target cut 7.3% to AUD 34.50/shr by Morgan Stanley.
The Lottery Corporation (TLC AT) price target cut 1.7% to AUD 5.90/shr by Morgans.
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE AT) price target raised 6.7% to AUD 4.80/shr by Macquarie, price target raised 4.9% to AUD 5.10/shr by Morgan Stanley, price target raised 12% to AUD 5.95/shr by Morgans.
Westpac Banking (WBC AT) price target cut 7.4% to AUD 31.50/shr by Morgan Stanley.

JAPAN

FUJIFILM Holdings (4901 JP) - Co. is reportedly partnering with Novartis on the development of peptides. (Nikkei)

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306 JP) - Co. will offer digital financial services for small and midsize companies as early as next year. (Nikkei)

Nippon Electric Glass (5214 JP) - Co. is speculated to be a possible supplier for Apple's foldable iPhone. (Nikkei)

SoftBank Group (9984 JP) - Co.-backed PayPay will enter the life insurance business as early as October 2027 through the acquisition of T&D Financial Life Insurance for USD 839mln. (Nikkei)

T&D Holdings (8795 JP) - Co. announced a share repurchase programme of up to 12mln shares, representing 2.5% of its issued shares excluding treasury stock, for JPY 30bln. (Newswires)

SOUTH KOREAN

Power/Utilities - Climate Minister Kim Sung-whan called for efforts to lower industrial electricity rates to help South Korean companies boost their global competitiveness, while reaffirming the country's push to expand clean energy. (Yonhap)

Tech - NVIDIA (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang will arrive in South Korea on Friday for a four-day trip. (Yonhap)

Other News

South Korea's Finance Minister said they will respond if the effects of volatility increase and inflation pressure worsens. (Newswires)