AUTO & TRANSPORT ROUNDUP: MARKET TALK

The latest Market Talks covering the Auto and Transport sector. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

1255 ET – Volkswagen’s restructuring plan is a potential game changer but the assumptions and targets seem demanding, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a note. Executing the plan—reducing capacity and cost, adding flexibility and speed to market—would make the analysts more positive on VW. “We see many low hanging fruit and think that VW has room to fund a good part of that restructuring via nonstrategic asset disposals,” MS says. Nevertheless, right now some of the plan depends on potentially bumpy negotiations with unions, which could generate positive and negative news flow in the second half, according to MS. Volkswagen shares closed at 81.46 euros.([email protected])

1213 ET – Renault’s exposure to a strong European market makes it the biggest beneficiary of potential regulatory protection, Morgan Stanley analysts say in a note. Renault is unlikely to sustain the market share growth it saw last year amid competition with Chinese carmakers but that doesn’t rule out positive volume growth, MS says. That is because the French carmaker is the most exposed company to European pent-up demand, which has further room to recover, MS says. Chinese competition is a concern long term but it brings incentives to adjust costs and capacity, the analysts say. MS upgrades Renault to equalweight from underweight, and raises the target to 31 euros from 25 euros. Shares closed at 29.36 euros. ([email protected])

1145 ET – Sam Altman has confirmed that OpenAI won’t go public until next year, but that’s been the sentiment for some time now, Neostellar Capital’s Evan Schlossman says in a note. Altman’s statements are tied to he and Elon Musk supporting Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s call to slow down AI development over safety concerns. The company just raised $122 billion, showcasing how much demand they’ve still got in the private markets, Schlossman says. Clearly OpenAI isn’t facing any pressure to run to the public markets, and will go public whenever its most advantageous to the business, he says. ([email protected])

1137 ET – Leaders of the top AI companies in the U.S. are in rare agreement that they need to slow development of the technology, but a major slowdown is unlikely while China is in the race, Giuseppe Sette co-founder and president of investment research platform Reflexivity says in a note. Clearly something happened that was big enough to force a unified stance between Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk, Sette says. And it was probably stopped at the last minute before disaster struck, he adds. But any retracement in AI stocks from the truce between the U.S. leaders is “simply a buying opportunity,” Sette says. ([email protected])

0322 ET – European energy stocks start the week higher as oil prices climb. Houthi rebels have seized key territory around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This means the two most important energy corridors in the Middle East-including the Strait of Hormuz on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula-are under the sway of Iran and its allies. Drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline have also increased supply fears. This pushes Brent crude 2.2% higher to $106.93 a barrel while WTI futures gain 2.2% to $102.23 a barrel. In London, BP gains 1.15% and Shell rises 1%. Spain’s Repsol, Italy’s Eni and France’s TotalEnergies rise more than 1%. ([email protected])

0306 ET – Oil prices start the week higher as conflict in the Middle East spreads. Iran-backed Houthi militants have seized key territory around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Drone attacks on the East-West pipeline, which had become a key conduit for Saudi Arabian crude to reach customers, will also constrain supply. In morning European trade, Brent crude rises 2.2% to $106.93 a barrel while WTI futures are 2.2% higher at $102.23 a barrel. ([email protected])

2358 ET – Kia’s resilient global vehicle-sales growth could continue through the end of 2026 despite challenges from the won’s appreciation, Nomura’s Angela Hong says. The South Korean carmaker’s sales are supported by gains in its U.S. market share as well as new-model launches focused on higher-margin hybrid electric vehicles, the analyst says. Like other Korean exporters, Kia is facing unfavorable foreign-exchange conditions, Hong says, citing the local currency’s gains of about 13% against the greenback since early July. Every 1% appreciation in the won against the dollar could drag Kia’s operating profit by 1.5% to 2%, she adds. Nomura cuts its target price for the stock to 220,000 won from 250,000 won but maintains a buy rating. Shares are 1.7% lower at 124,500 won. ([email protected])

2026-09-14T13:05:31Z