PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Samsung Electronics prelim. Q1 earnings topped forecast with an eight-fold increase in oper. profit

AUSTRALIA

Bank of Queensland (BOQ AT) - Co. agreed a strategic capital partnership with Challenger (CGF AT) including a AUD 3.7bln whole-of-loan sale and a forward flow arrangement for equipment finance assets. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

BlueScope Steel (BSL AT) - Co. is reportedly commencing early preparations for a potential sale of its US business. (AFR)

Capricorn Metals (CMM AT) - Co. said Q3 gold output was 30.4k oz in line with FY mine plan and is on track to achieve the upper end of FY26 production guidance, while it is not currently impacted by diesel fuel supply issues and had cash and gold on hand of AUD 507.6mln at March 31. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

CSL (CSL AT) - Co. said it is working through details of US Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs and expects most of its US product sales not to be subject to tariffs, while noting plasma therapies are sourced entirely in the US and Seqirus’s Fluad product is made in the UK where tariffs are currently 10% but expected to fall to 0%. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Guzman y Gomez (GYG AT) - Co. reported Q3 global network sales rose 19.5% Y/Y to AUD 345.9mln and reaffirmed guidance, while it expects Australia underlying EBITDA margin to expand to 6.0-6.2% in FY26 and is on track to open 32 restaurants in Australia. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

NextDC (NXT AT) - Co. is launching a AUD 1.0bln wholesale offer of subordinated hybrid securities supported by a binding commitment from La Caisse to enhance financial flexibility, with lower cash coupon in the first five years, no equity conversion features and proforma liquidity of AUD 5.2bln, while it still intends to pursue a subordinated notes issue after completion. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

Ramelius Resources (RMS AT) - Co. reported Q3 gold output of 38.1k oz and underlying free cash flow of AUD 101.9mln, while output was impacted by a planned mill shutdown and rainfall, FY production remains on track for midpoint of guidance and it had cash and gold balance of AUD 606.5mln at March 31. (Dow Jones Newsplus)

JAPAN

Mazda Motor (7261 JT) - Co. will suspend production of vehicles destined for the Middle East until May following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with output redirected to the US and Europe after exports were halted in March. (Nikkei)

Mitsubishi Motors (7211 JT) - Co. will begin producing hybrid vehicles in the Philippines in mid-2028 as it adds new models to defend market share against Chinese competitors in Southeast Asia. (Nikkei)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JT) - Co. has started discussions with Nippon Life Insurance toward launching a private credit fund to finance corporate acquisitions. (Nikkei)

Tokyo Century Corp (8439 JT) - Co. is to record a JPY 70.1bln impairment loss after reducing the book value of fixed assets related to its biomass co-firing power generation business. (Newswires)

Toyota Motor (7203 JT) - Co. sold 7,241 EVs in Japan in Q1, with sales rising 34-fold Y/Y as it surpassed BYD and was aided by subsidies of more than USD 6k per car. (Nikkei)

SOUTH KOREA

Hyundai Motor (005380 KS) - Co. has signed a preliminary agreement with state-run banks to advance its KRW 9.0tln project to develop the Saemangeum reclaimed area into a hub for future mobility solutions. (Yonhap)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. prelim. Q1 (KRW) oper profit 57.2tln (exp. 40.6tln), rev. 133tln (exp. 119.2tln). (Newswires)

Other News - Korea defence orders have surged past KRW 110tln amid rising exports and demand. (ChosunBiz)