PRE-MARKET JAPANESE AND SOUTH KOREAN STOCKS NEWS: SoftBank Group (9984 JT) plans to build 9.2 gigawatts of natural gas-fired power generation capacity in Ohio to supply energy for AI data centres

JFE Holdings (5411 JT) - Japan plans to support a low-emissions furnace at a steel subsidiary of the Co., guaranteeing up to JPY 180bln in loans under a programme aimed at encouraging such investments. (Nikkei)

Kubota (6326 JT) - Co. is considering alternative procurement routes, including via the Red Sea, for plastics to work around the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (Nikkei)

Mazda Motor (7261 JT) - Co. is set to begin production of its redesigned CX-5 for the domestic market next month as it seeks to boost sales. (Nikkei)

Nintendo (7974 JT) - Co. is set to release a Switch 2 console in the European Union that allows users to replace batteries themselves to comply with the bloc's right-to-repair directive. (Nikkei)

SoftBank Group (9984 JT) - Co. plans to build 9.2 gigawatts of natural gas-fired power generation capacity in Ohio to supply energy for AI data centres, with the project forming part of 10 gigawatts of new capacity in Portsmouth, while CEO Son said the Co. is channelling USD 500bln in one campus. (Nikkei)

Suzuki Motor (7269 JT) - Co. is set to increase annual automobile production capacity at its plant in western India to 1mln units as it adds a new production line aimed at scaling up electric vehicle output. (Jiji)

Japan hinted at SDF dispatch for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz provided that there is a cease-fire. (Nikkei)

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi said they are ready to allow Japanese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran has started talks with Japan about the possible opening of the Strait, according to an interview with Kyodo News. However, it was separately reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi said Japan isn’t considering unilateral negotiations with Iran to secure passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. (Newswires/Kyodo)

Korea Electric Power Co. (015760 KR) - Co. is planning to freeze Q2 power prices. (Newswires)

Naver (035420 KR) - Co. has effectively begun cutting its losses on Indonesia's integrated media group Emtek, selling around 10.9% of its holding last year after the company continued to post weak results. (ChosunBiz)

SK Telecom (017670 KR) - Co. has established a dedicated artificial intelligence investment entity in the Cayman Islands. (ChosunBiz)

South Korea nominated BIS official Shin Hyun Song to become the next BoK Governor. (Newswires)

South Korean ruling party spokesperson announced that they are to draft an extra budget of around KRW 25tln vs prev. estimate of around KRW 20tln. (Newswires)