PRE-MARKET JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Halliburton (HAL) acquires Sekai from Sumitomo Corp (8053 JT)

JAPAN

Asahi Kasei (3407 JT) - Co. will enter the market for insulating materials for semiconductor substrates with low-coefficient-of-thermal-expansion glass cloth, targeting a commercial release within a few years. (Nikkei)

Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JT) - Co. is seeking a reset in its US strategy with new partner Itochu. (Nikkei)

Honda Motor (7267 JT) - Co. has subscribed to new shares of Gachaco issued via a third-party allotment, making it a consolidated subsidiary. (Newswires)

Mazda Motor (7261 JT) - Co. North American March sales fell 25.7% Y/Y to 32,017 vehicles. (Newswires)

Subaru (7270 JT) - Co. US March sales rose to 54,674 units (prev. 45,113 M/M). (Newswires)

Sumitomo Corp (8053 JT) - Halliburton (HAL) acquires Sekai from Sumitomo Corp. (Newswires)

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JT) - Co. will sell the commercial banking business of California-based SMBC Manubank to Bank of Hope, a US regional bank. (Nikkei)

Toyota Motor (7203 JT) - Co. US March vehicle deliveries fell 8.5% Y/Y to 211,617 units. (Newswires)

Airlines - All Nippon Airways (9202 JT) and Japan Airlines (9201 JT) are raising fuel surcharges added to airfares by as much as double as they seek to pass on higher fuel costs to customers amid the Iran war. (Nikkei)

Autos - Daimler Truck (DTG GY), Hino Motors (7205 JT) and Mitsubishi Fuso (5701 JT) are part of a new commercial vehicle holding company backed by Toyota Motor which has begun operations and listed on the Tokyo bourse to strengthen competitiveness and catch up with new mobility technology as Chinese rivals gain ground globally. (Nikkei)

SOUTH KOREA

Kakao Corp (035720 KS) - Uber (UBER) is mulling taking a controlling stake in Kakao Mobility. (Newswires)

Kia Corp. (000270 KS) - Co. was recognised as the best car manufacturer at the Top Gear EV Awards 2026, while March sales rose 2.7% Y/Y driven by increased demand both overseas and domestically. (Yonhap)

KG Mobility (003620 KS) - Co. March sales rose 5.5% Y/Y to 10,004 vehicles, driven by increased domestic demand. (Yonhap)

SK Hynix (000660 KS) - Co. is considering a share buyback and cancellation of approximately KRW 15.0tln, to be funded using proceeds from its previously planned NY ADR listing. (Newswires)

Energy - South Korea government raised its resource security crisis warning to Level 3 over a potential crude oil supply disruption as physical supply disruptions begin to emerge. (Yonhap)