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

1129 ET - DraftKings plans to integrate its new prediction markets offering into its core sports betting app. The new app will be called DraftKings Sports & Casino, removing the word "sportsbook" as prediction markets aren't legally considered betting. DraftKings will launch the new app by March Madness later this month. The company says the experience in the app will look similar in states where sports betting is legal and where they are illegal. In the latter, users will only be able to access the predictions product. DraftKings also plans to improve user personalization in the app to make wagering recommendations. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)

1109 ET - Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel says on a call with analysts that the company stands to benefit from higher natural gas prices in the short term. The liquefied natural-gas exporter and Qatar had the largest number of available cargoes in the market as of last week, Sabel says. "And so, with Qatar for the moment turned off and potentially damaged, the market's waiting to see if there can be an estimate on when it can turn back on and the ships can start to flow through," he continues. Sabel notes that it's going to take a few days for the market and prices to digest what's going on. He adds that "every day that ships can't flow through that creates a lot of backup and incremental demand." Shares gain 22%. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

1038 ET - The dollar's outlook depends on the outcome of Trump administration's conflict with Iran, Macquarie Group's Thierry Wizman says in a note. History demonstrates that the dollar performs well when the U.S. engages successfully abroad and demonstrates leadership, he says. The First Persian Gulf War in 1990-91 was followed by 10 years of real dollar appreciation as the U.S. had a well-defined goal and the support of most countries and the United Nations. "However, the dollar does poorly if engagement is unsuccessful, as was apparent in the War on Terror during the 2000s." That war didn't have broad support from other countries, leading to a lengthy and protracted dollar decline. The DXY dollar index rises 0.8% to 98.396.(renae.dyer@wsj.com)

1029 ET - Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel says demand for liquefied natural gas is expected to meet or exceed supply through the end of the decade. However, the market will "quickly move to under-supplied early next decade, unless additional liquefaction capacity is added," Sabel says on a call with analysts. He notes that the outlook is conservative, based on annual demand growth of 4.7% through 2035, below the historical growth rate of 5.3% over the past decade. Venture Global jumps 17%. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

1025 ET - Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel wraps up the company's prepared earnings remarks by addressing the current situation unfolding across the Middle East. "We are monitoring developments closely and hoping for the safety and security of all Americans and everyone else in the region," Sabel says. "The events over the weekend have had a strong impact on global energy markets with the largest available incremental LNG capacity in the world." Sabel continues to say the U.S. will play a critical role during "this historic disruption in the market," and that Venture Global is "ready to help keep the markets stabilized and supplied." Shares climb 17%. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

1014 ET - "The past few months and recent events have demonstrated the impact of seasonality, the inherent tightness of liquefied natural gas supply and demand, and of course, the impact of geopolitics on our market," says Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global, an LNG exporter. Demand is currently meeting supply, he continues, though supplies remain under pressure due in part to colder-than-typical weather this winter, delays across a number of current LNG projects and increasing demand for power. "Of course, this is all impacted by current events over the weekend," Sabel says on a call with analysts. Oil prices surge after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran show signs of sparking a widening conflict across the Middle East. Venture Global shares pop 17%. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

1009 ET - Paramount says that combining its linear TV business with Warner's will allow both to combat market pressures for longer. The combination will drive efficiencies and boost cash flow, while providing advertisers more attractive opportunities. "There are incredible brands across the combinedlinear portfolio that we really do believe in being able to transition to a digital future," says Chief Executive David Ellison. The merger will "keep the portfolio healthier and prolong the life for longer than they would have as standalone businesses," Ellison says. The company also says it has no plans to divest or spin off any of its cable assets. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)

1007 ET - After the Warner merger closes, Paramount will unite the streaming services on one platform, says Chief Executive David Ellison. Combined, the companies' streaming services have over 200 million subscribers. "We think that really positions us to compete with the leaders in the space," Ellison says. Paramount will still provide HBO Max independence to continue operating as it has previously. "Our view point is HBO should stay HBO.And they built a phenomenal brand. They are a leader in this space," Ellison says. "But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone." (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)

1005 ET - Paramount says that while it will find significant savings following its merger with Warner, those savings won't include cutting production capacity. The combined company will release at least 30 films annually and the majority of cost-savings will be from non-labor sources. Chief Executive David Ellison says that the company will keep investing in content production to gain subscribers for its streaming services. "We have all of the economic incentives to make sure that we grow this business and are going to invest in content to basically achieve those goals," he says. (nicholas.miller@wsj.com)

0939 ET - Shares in operators of airport stores and other outlets in travel locations fall amid disruption in the Middle East after Iran targeted some of the world's busiest airports in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks. Shares in Switzerland's Avolta and the U.K.'s WH Smith fall more than 6%, the U.K.'s SSP is down 5.5% and France's Lagardere drops 2.3%. "Within our travel retail coverage, we see SSP as most exposed, followed by Avolta, while WH Smith is the most insulated, in our view," analysts at Berenberg say in a research note. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0929 ET - Margins of European chemical companies could be at risk as a result of higher oil and gas prices due to conflict in the Middle East, Citi analysts say in a note. While higher oil prices pose a margin risk, a spike in gas prices would raise input costs, the analysts say. "If oil and gas prices remain elevated for an extended period, downstream companies with longer contract durations, like coatings, flavors and fragrances, would also be at risk of temporary margin compression," the analysts add. Nevertheless, it is still too early to assess the potential ramifications of the escalation in Iran or to determine whether it could derail stocks in a similar manner to the U.S tariffs last year, the analysts add. (nina.kienle@wsj.com)

0921 ET - Roche Holding's latest study for multiple sclerosis drug candidate fenebrutinib raised concerns about liver toxicity and an imbalance of deaths between the two arms of the trial, which leaves the drug's approval in doubt, analysts at Jefferies say in a note. The U.S. FDA is likely to scrutinize the case of drug-induced liver injury, and the death imbalance will be a looming concern, according to Jefferies. "We are unsure about the approvability of fenebrutinib," the analysts say. In rejecting an application for a rival treatment from Sanofi, the FDA seemed focused on liver safety issues, which fenebrutinib also has, they add. The study results are unlikely to build confidence on a consensus estimate that puts the drug's peak sales at 3 billion Swiss francs, Jefferies says. Roche shares fall 1.5%. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 02, 2026 11:29 ET (16:29 GMT)

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