PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Day traders are reportedly abandoning Korean chip leveraged ETFs in large numbers

AUSTRALIA

Antipa Minerals (AZY AT) - Co. reported fresh drilling results extending gold-copper mineralisation at its Tim's Dome prospect in Western Australia, including intersections of 10m at 1.5g/t gold and 0.62% copper. (Motley Fool)

Austal (ASB AT) - Co. FY (AUD) net loss AUD 53.6mln, EBIT loss AUD 125.2mln, rev. rose 11% Y/Y to AUD 2.03bln, no final dividend; Co. said its Australasian order book now comprises an AUD 5bln-plus, 12-year build programme. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

EVT (EVT AT) - Blackstone is reportedly weighing a purchase of the Co., which owns cinemas and other entertainment assets, in a potential AUD 2.5bln deal. (The Australian)

Liontown (LTR AT) - Co. FY (AUD) net profit AUD 93mln, underlying EBITDA rose to AUD 147mln (prev. AUD 20mln Y/Y), rev. rose to AUD 639mln (prev. AUD 298mln Y/Y). (Motley Fool)

Monash IVF Group (MVF AT) - Co. FY (AUD) underlying net profit fell 41.2% Y/Y to AUD 16.1mln, underlying EBITDA fell 19.5% Y/Y to AUD 53.4mln, rev. fell 0.9% Y/Y to AUD 269.5mln, declared a fully franked final dividend. (Motley Fool)

Northern Star Resources (NST AT) - Co. named Ryan Gurner as interim CEO until Suresh Vadnagra joins as CEO on October 5, after which Gurner will resume his CFO role before stepping down on November 30, with the Co. to begin recruitment for a new CFO. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Rio Tinto (RIO AT) - Bids are reportedly due for the Co.'s mothballed AUD 300mln Mt Cattlin lithium mine, with Develop Global (DVP AT), led by former Northern Star boss Bill Beament, among those believed to be circling the asset. (The Australian)

Solstice Minerals (SLS AT) - Co. reported new high-grade copper-gold intercepts at its 100%-owned Nanadie Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia, including 172m at 0.69% copper and 0.30g/t gold and 18m at 2.29% copper and 1.12g/t gold. (Motley Fool)

Strike Energy (STX AT) - Co. selected Hancock Energy's proposed Belisama facility as the preferred gas-processing pathway for West Erregulla and secured up to AUD 30mln in funding support for pre-development activities. (Motley Fool)

Telstra (TLS AT) - Co. director Bridget Loudon-Harris will step down on October 13. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Wildcat Resources (WC8 AT) - Co. reported further high-grade lithium drilling results at its Bolt Cutter Central and Tabba Tabba projects in Western Australia, with the Bolt Cutter Central mineralised system now extending around 2.3km by 0.8km. (Motley Fool)

Broker Ratings/Price Target

• Bapcor (BAP AT) Upgraded to Neutral from Sell, price target raised 73% to AUD 0.69/shr by Citi.
• Perpetual (PPT AT) Price target raised 6.6% to AUD 20.25/shr by Citi.
• Qantas Airways (QAN AT) Price target raised 0.9% to AUD 11.50/shr by Citi.
• Ramsay Health Care (RHC AT) Price target raised 17% to AUD 49.00/shr by Citi.
• Sigma Healthcare (SIG AT) Price target cut 9.4% to AUD 2.90/shr by Citi.
• SiteMinder (SDR AT) Price target cut 14% to AUD 5.20/shr by Citi.
• Wesfarmers (WES AT) Price target raised 1.4% to AUD 70.00/shr by Citi.

JAPAN

Casio Computer (6952 JT) - Co. plans to expand its watch-store network in India by around 70% by 2030 while increasing local production, including a women's watch line. (Nikkei)

Dentsu Soken (4812 JT) - Itochu (8001 JT) is to launch a tender offer for the Co. at JPY 2,880/shr. (Newswires)

Fast Retailing (9983 JT) - Co.'s Uniqlo casual wear chain is overhauling its domestic new-store strategy, shifting away from standardised shopping-centre outlets towards flagship stores in major urban centres. (Nikkei)

Honda Motor (7267 JT) - Co. and Nissan Motor (7201 JT) are expected to agree as soon as Monday to jointly develop a shared vehicle operating system and onboard computer for new models from as early as 2029. (Nikkei)

Sony Group (6758 JT) - Co.'s Sony Music Entertainment Japan unit will become the largest shareholder of GungHo Online Entertainment (3765 JT) with a 22.9% stake as it seeks to strengthen its game portfolio. (Nikkei)

Sumitomo Corp. (8053 JT) - Co. has joined a copper-gold mine project in northern Chile, with production expected to begin in the early 2030s and annual copper output attributable to the Co. expected at around 5k tonnes. (Nikkei)

Suzuki Motor (7269 JT) - Co. has begun selling Pakistan-made Alto and Every small cars in Brunei, marking its first export of kei-sized vehicles from an overseas production base. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Electric Power (9501 JT) - Co. and the Japanese government plan to launch a consortium as soon as this fiscal year to use AI robots and drones in the removal of radioactive debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (Nikkei)

Tokio Marine Holdings (8766 JT) - Co. will spend GBP 265mln to acquire UK commercial vehicle fleet insurer Direct Commercial as it expands its European operations. (Nikkei)

Yamaha Motor (7272 JT) - Co. has launched its new flagship YZF-R2 sport motorcycle in India as it targets growing demand for higher-priced motorcycles. (Nikkei)

Other News

Japan's currency authority spent a record JPY 15.39trln buying yen between July 30 and August 26, marking the largest amount used in a single intervention round. (Nikkei)

SOUTH KOREA

Kia Corp. (000270 KS) - Co.’s labour union approved this year’s wage agreement, concluding annual negotiations without a strike for a sixth consecutive year. (Yonhap)

Tech

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) and SK Hynix (000660 KS) paid a combined KRW 11.2trln in corporate taxes in H1, with Samsung paying KRW 3.99trln and SK Hynix KRW 7.22trln amid the semiconductor supercycle. (Yonhap)

Day traders are reportedly abandoning Korean chip leveraged ETFs in large numbers. (Newswires)

Other News

South Korean President Lee nominated Lee Hyoung-il as the new finance minister and Kang Shin-chul as defence minister. (Yonhap)

BoK warned that the semiconductor boom could reignite inflation if gains in corporate and household income translate into stronger consumption. (Yonhap)