PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN, JAPANESE & SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Tokio Marine Holdings (8766 JT) is exploring a potential AUD 20bln-plus acquisition of an Australian insurer, with Insurance Australia Group (IAG AT) and Suncorp (SUN AT) among potential targets

AUSTRALIA

GQG Partners (GQG AT) - Co. reported total FUM of USD 149.2bln as at 31 August 2026, down from USD 156.4bln a month earlier, with net outflows of USD 4.3bln and a negative USD 2.9bln impact from investment performance. (Motley Fool)

Santos (STO AT) - Co.’s GLNG joint venture is set to benefit after the Albanese government softened its proposed domestic gas reservation scheme from a fixed 20% requirement to an obligation of up to 20% of exportable volumes. (The Australian)

Bathla Group - APRA has contacted regulated entities to assess their exposure to the property developer and its lenders following the Co.’s AUD 3.4bln collapse, raising concerns that the fallout could extend beyond private credit. (The Australian)

Insurers - Tokio Marine Holdings (8766 JT) is exploring a potential AUD 20bln-plus acquisition of an Australian insurer, with Insurance Australia Group (IAG AT) and Suncorp Group (SUN AT) among the potential targets. (The Australian)

Other News

Citi expects the RBA to raise interest rates at its September and November meetings as the escalating Middle East conflict lifts oil prices and inflation concerns. (The Australian)

JAPAN

Hulic (3003 JT) - Co. and consortium partners acquired part of the Pacific Century Place Marunouchi office tower near Tokyo Station for around JPY 230bln, in one of Japan’s largest single-building property transactions. (Nikkei)

Itochu (8001 JT) - Co.’s subsidiary FamilyMart opened its first Hanoi location as part of a renewed Vietnam expansion push, targeting 300 stores over the next five years. (Nikkei)

Nissan Motor (7201 JT) - Co. plans to maintain domestic production capacity of 1mln vehicles following a plant closure by transferring production among its remaining Japanese facilities, including moving Elgrand minivan production to its Tochigi plant. (Nikkei)

Sekisui Chemical (4204 JT) - Co. will acquire a controlling stake in Australian construction company Ausbuild Group for AUD 335mln as it expands its overseas housing business and eyes growth in modular homes. (Nikkei)

Tokio Marine Holdings (8766 JT) - Co. is exploring a potential AUD 20bln-plus acquisition of an Australian insurer, with Insurance Australia Group (IAG AT) and Suncorp Group (SUN AT) among the potential targets. (The Australian)

SOUTH KOREA

SK Inc. (034730 KS) - Chairman Chey Tae-won visited the SK Group AI data centre under construction in Ulsan and SK Innovation’s nearby petrochemical complex, calling for greater synergy between the group’s AI infrastructure and manufacturing operations. (Yonhap)

Social Media Platforms - Meta (META) is in talks with the South Korean government over potential restrictions on social media use by children. (Yonhap)

Asset Management/Securities - South Korean asset management firms saw their combined profit rise more than 80% Q/Q in Q2, supported by higher commission income amid a bullish stock market. (Yonhap)

Trade

Mexico’s ambassador to South Korea highlighted the countries’ deeply integrated economic ties and cooperation in advanced industries, while South Korea’s trade minister called for the resumption of bilateral free trade agreement negotiations. (Yonhap)

Other News

South Korea will introduce tougher penalties this week for companies suffering personal information leaks affecting more than 10mln people. (Yonhap)