The latest Market Talks covering Equities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0623 GMT - Japan's Nikkei Stock Average slipped 1.6% to close at 29302.66, amid worry over U.S. rate increases after Fed Chair Powell's renomination. With the overnight weakness of tech-heavy Nasdaq, losses on Japan's benchmark index were led by technology names such as SHIFT Inc. sliding 12.8%, GMO Payment Gateway dropping 5.6% and M3 Inc. down 5.0%. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group added 2.1% after a Nikkei report that Japan will conduct a test run of a new digital currency involving a consortium of around 70 Japanese companies including the bank. USD/JPY was at 114.93 compared with 114.13 at Monday's Tokyo stock market close. The 10-year Japanese government bond yield was up 1 basis point at 0.080%. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0619 GMT - Bank Negara Indonesia shares look appealing to CGS-CIMB, which notes that it is the only large Indonesia-based lender trading below its five-year average. The lender is likely to benefit as Indonesia's economy gradually recovers from the impact of Covid-19, the broker says. The company is also reportedly partnering with Southeast Asian online platform Sea Ltd. to form a digital bank, which could boost its valuation. Asset quality also looks solid after Bank Negara cleaned up its books after appointing its current existing management team in 2020, the brokerage says. CGS-CIMB raises the stock's target price to IDR8,710 from IDR8,440 and maintains an add rating. Shares rise 0.7% to IDR7,050. (yiwei.wong@wsj.com)

0604 GMT - Kuaishou Technology has outlined a strategy that emphasizes profitability, departing from its previous priority of growth, Nomura says. The short-video platform's operating margins could improve as it scales back marketing expenses and strives for better efficiency in user acquisition and retention. This pivot could draw mixed reactions from investors, Nomura says. Some may switch to other high-growth stocks such as rival Bilibili, while others will be glad Kuaishou "is finally on the trajectory to profitability." A dimming outlook for ad revenue leads Nomura to reduce its revenue forecasts for Kuaishou by 9% in 4Q and 6% in 2022. It lowers the stock's target price to HK$114.00 from HK$122.00 but keeps a buy rating. Shares add 6.5% to HK$100.90. (clarence.leong@wsj.com)

0548 GMT - Mapletree Logistics Trust's DPU could grow from planned property acquisitions in China and Vietnam, CGS-CIMB says. The logistics-related asset purchases will allow the REIT to deepen its presence in two high-growth markets, and allow it to capture opportunities amid logistics-sector growth in the wake of Covid-19, the broker says. While CGS-CIMB likes Mapletree Logistics Trust for its pan-Asian logistics asset focus, an expected 2022 dividend yield of about 4.4% is on the lower end compared with its industrial REIT peers, it says. The broker keeps a hold rating with an unchanged target price of S$2.11. Units are 2.6% lower at S$1.90. (yongchang.chin@wsj.com)

0539 GMT - LG Innotek's 2022 earnings will likely get a boost from its supply of upgraded and pricier camera modules to smartphone makers, Yuanta Securities Korea says. The brokerage expects the Apple supplier to produce higher-resolution camera modules, particularly for U.S. clients to make mobile handsets capable of producing 48-megapixel images. Upgraded camera modules will likely help boost LG Innotek's earnings despite their possibly soft shipment growth, Yuanta adds. It raises the stock's target price by 19% to KRW380,000 and keeps a buy rating. Shares rise 5.2% to KRW292,500. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)

0519 GMT - Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.15% lower at 7399.4, as strength in energy producers and providers was more than offset by weakness elsewhere. The benchmark followed a mixed lead from U.S. equities by spending the session bouncing on either side of the gain-line in a narrow 43-point range. Oil Search, Woodside, Santos and Beach gained between 0.7% and 2.4% amid a rise in oil prices. The heavyweight financial and materials sectors, which comprise about 45% of the ASX 200 by market capitalization, slipped by 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Tech stocks led losses as Afterpay edged 0.2% lower and Technology One lost 8.6% after several analysts downgraded their recommendation on the stock. (stuart.condie@wsj.com; @StuartLCondie)

0459 GMT - Haidilao International's decision to slow its previously-aggressive expansion will likely help improve the restaurant operator's free cash flow, Fitch Ratings says. The ratings agency reckons that Haidilao's new strategy of moderating its expansion and suspending unprofitable outlets could turn its cash flow positive in the long run. However, Fitch maintains a negative outlook on the company, as leverage could remain high in the near term due to its previous rapid expansion and heavy spending. Fitch will consider revising its outlook to stable if it sees evidence of improved restaurant productivity. (yifan.wang@wsj.com)