PRE-MARKET JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: Japan gave order to prepare for the release of oil reserves

Asahi Co. (3333 JT) - Co. entered a basic agreement for a business alliance with Sakai Cycle aimed at revitalising the bicycle market and improving customer convenience. (Newswires)

Astellas Pharma (4503 JT) - Co. and the HOVON Foundation said a late-stage clinical trial for their cancer drug XOSPATA did not achieve its key goal. (Newswires)

Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JT) - Co. said its drug Enhertu received US Priority Review for HER2-positive early breast cancer. (Newswires)

NEC Corp (6701 JT) - Co. guides FY27 adj. oper. margin of more than 10%. (Nikkei)

Nissan Motor (7201 JT) - Smaller suppliers to the Co. are expanding into Vietnam in search of new growth opportunities. (Nikkei)

Construction Machinery - Komatsu (6301 JT), Hitachi Construction Machinery (6305 JT) and Kubota (6326 JT) will maintain price hikes introduced to offset US tariffs despite the US Supreme Court’s ruling against those duties last month. (Nikkei)

Industrials - IHI Corporation (7013 JT) and Mitsubishi Heavy (7011 JT) are ramping up aircraft engine maintenance capacity to meet growing demand. (Nikkei)

Energy - Japanese Finance Minister Katayama said G7 Finance Ministers would push relevant ministers to release emergency oil reserves and they agreed to closely monitor energy markets and take necessary action. Furthermore, Japan ordered the preparation for the release of oil reserves. (Newswires/Nikkei)

Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) - Co. and LG Display (034220 KS) units are pushing high-end OLED displays to compete with Chinese rivals. (Nikkei)