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The research team at Asia Plus Securities has maintained its Buy recommendation on Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, with a fair value of 310 baht per share. It views the restart of the olefins plant of Rayong Olefins, or ROC, on 17 September 2026, after a temporary shutdown since March, as helping to reduce uncertainty in the petrochemical business and as a key factor supporting the major maintenance shutdown plan of the Map Ta Phut Olefins plant, or MOC, later this year, allowing SCC to maintain continuity in delivering products to customers. Meanwhile, the fourth quarter of the year is normally the low season for the industry, so the risk of a significant decline in sales volume is limited, supporting the view that ROC has a chance to operate continuously after this restart. Value drivers going forward also come from improving operational efficiency through the LSPE Ethane and CBM Transformation projects, as well as the opportunity to create synergies from cooperation between SCGC and PTTGC in the olefins and polyolefins businesses, which is expected to become clearer by the end of September. The research team views that if such a deal leads to the consolidation of production capacity and improved asset management efficiency as the market expects, it would enhance the competitiveness of Thailand's petrochemical industry in the long term and create greater flexibility amid global industry oversupply. Although pressure remains from new production capacity gradually entering the market during 2027-2028, the creation of synergies and improved operational efficiency could help alleviate pressure on margins and support a recovery in earnings going forward.

Commercial Metals Company expects its TAG Transform, Advance, Grow program to deliver run-rate gross EBITDA benefits exceeding $250 million by the end of fiscal 2026, rising to more than $350 million by the end of fiscal 2027. Launched in 2024, the program spans more than 150 individual projects across the company's business segments and support functions, aimed at optimizing logistics, reducing input consumption, lowering costs and boosting energy efficiency. Backed by the program, CMC expects fiscal 2029 core EBITDA of $1.65 billion to $1.80 billion, a 106% surge at the midpoint from the $837 million delivered in fiscal 2025, with a core EBITDA margin of 15-16%. Separately, Cleveland-Cliffs is investing $1 billion to modernize its Middletown Works facility in Ohio, half of it funded by a $500 million U.S. Department of Energy award, while Carpenter Technology set a fiscal 2029 operating income target of $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion, up from $702 million reported in fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate puts CMC's fiscal 2026 sales at $9.18 billion, up 13.9% year over year, and earnings at $6.62 per share, up 111.5%.

Cabot Corporation is expanding domestic production of advanced conductive additives at its Franklin, Louisiana, and Pampa facilities through a modified $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation. The funding, combined with approximately $75 million of Cabot investment, is intended to meet rising demand for energy storage systems, AI infrastructure, data centers, grid modernization and broader electrification. Under the revised agreement, Cabot will redirect funding from its originally planned Michigan project toward a two-site brownfield expansion, a move expected to accelerate development, improve production efficiency and strengthen supply capabilities. The investment will support Franklin's production of LITX advanced battery-grade conductive carbons, while the Pampa facility will establish Cabot's first commercial-scale production of carbon nanostructures and part of its ENERMAX product family, with both projects expected to become operational by the end of 2028. Cabot's shares have gained 17% year to date compared with the industry's 13.7% rise in the same period.

Steel Dynamics expects third-quarter 2026 earnings of $5.34-$5.38 per share, well above the $3.69 it reported in the second quarter and the $2.74 it posted in the year-ago quarter. The company said stronger steel metal margins, record shipments, higher realized selling prices and lower scrap costs are projected to drive the significant sequential improvement in steel operations profitability, with healthy order activity, solid end-market demand and low customer inventories also supporting pricing conditions. Steel fabrication earnings are expected to improve modestly on higher shipments despite narrower metal spreads, and the backlog is nearly 50% above prior-year levels and extends through the first quarter of 2027, supported by demand from commercial construction, data centers, manufacturing and healthcare. Metals recycling earnings are expected to decline sequentially on lower metal spreads and slightly weaker shipments, while aluminum earnings are expected to improve meaningfully on higher shipments as the company advances its Columbus, MS aluminum flat rolled mill, where all three cold mills are operational and the first Continuous Annealing and Solution Heat line is expected to ship commercial material in the fourth quarter. Steel Dynamics has repurchased $261 million, or just under 1% of its common stock, so far in the third quarter, and is scheduled to report third-quarter 2026 results after market close on Oct. 19, 2026.

International Flavors & Fragrances has launched Omni-Bos PHY, a phytase enzyme for dairy cattle aimed at improving feed efficiency, nutrient utilization and producer profitability across key emerging regions. The animal nutrition product arrives as IFF shares trade at US$84.91, with a 30-day share price return of 4.83% and a 24.81% year-to-date gain, while total shareholder return stands at 37.06% over the past year and 32.41% over three years, against a 27.02% decline over five years. On the most followed narrative, IFF screens as 10% undervalued, with an estimated fair value of about $94.82 against the recent $84.91 share price, a case that leans on recent divestitures of commodity businesses including Pharma Solutions, Soy Crush, Concentrates and Lecithin, plus the ongoing strategic evaluation of the Food Ingredients segment. Management expects investments in R&D and capacity, especially in Health & Biosciences, Taste and Specialty Fragrance Ingredients, to accelerate revenue and profit growth beginning in 2026 and reaching full impact by 2027. A separate lens using the SWS DCF model points to a future cash flow value of $106.45 at today's $84.91 price, also flagging the stock as undervalued, though ongoing weakness in key markets and pressure in fragrance ingredients could derail the case.

Yuanta Securities issued an analysis of Tipco Asphalt Public Company Limited, or TASCO, stating that the resumption of crude oil imports from Venezuela opens long-term upside, but the third-quarter outlook remains challenging. The firm said asphalt sales volumes will slow both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, weighed down by weak domestic sales as the country enters the rainy season and as government budget disbursements slow toward the end of fiscal year 2026. Even so, remaining investment budgets awaiting disbursement are still as high as 239 billion baht, or 31% of the total investment budget. Overseas sales were flat to slightly weaker, as international asphalt prices rose above 700 US dollars per tonne, the highest in 10 years, prompting customers to delay orders. The company maintained its 2026 sales target of 1.1 to 1.2 million tonnes, having already achieved 0.53 million tonnes in the first half, or roughly 44% to 48% of the full-year target. Its construction contracting business is expected to be steady compared with the second quarter, with management maintaining its target of recognizing about 2.5 billion baht in revenue in the second half of 2026, up 88% half-on-half and 117% year-on-year, and with a backlog of 6.2 billion baht at the end of the second quarter of 2026. As for Venezuelan crude imports, the company brought in its first lot of 600,000 to 700,000 barrels in late July 2026 and its second lot of 800,000 to 900,000 barrels in mid-August 2026. Both were lot-by-lot contracts arranged through intermediaries, not long-term contracts directly with PDVSA. The resumption of these imports will lift asphalt yield by about 10% to 15% compared with using crude from other sources. The research team maintained its 2026 profit forecast at 1.563 billion baht, up 57.3% year-on-year, and its 2027 forecast at 1.935 billion baht, up 23.8% year-on-year. It also maintained its end-2027 fair value of 19.40 baht and expects a 2026 dividend of 1.00 baht per share, a dividend yield of 5.9%, and therefore kept its buy recommendation.

Pan African Resources PLC reported record gold production of just under 275,000 ounces for its 2026 fiscal year, up about 40% year-on-year, with a second-half annualized run-rate near 290,000 ounces. Revenue rose 114% to $1.1 billion, adjusted EBITDA climbed 169%, and headline earnings surged 207% to $358 million, or $0.1764 per share, as the average US dollar gold price received rose 55% and the group remained unhedged throughout the year. The company ended the year debt-free with $246 million in cash and short-term investments and $79 million in undrawn facilities, after repaying $149 million including $119 million voluntarily. The board proposed a record final dividend of ZAR0.65 per share plus a maiden interim dividend of ZAR0.12, for a total of ZAR0.77 per share, up 108% and worth roughly $113 million, and approved a share buyback of up to ZAR500 million, about $30 million, commencing October 2026. For FY27, the company guided production to 280,000 to just over 300,000 ounces, skewed to the second half, with group capital spending of approximately $330 million.

Air Products Inc. announced in mid-September 2026 that it has signed a long-term agreement with a leading semiconductor manufacturer and will invest about US$250,000,000 in Arizona to build, own and operate high-purity gas supply infrastructure for the customer's expanding U.S. manufacturing and advanced packaging facilities. The Arizona project is the second recent semiconductor manufacturing supply win for the company, and together with its large semiconductor gas supply project in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, it lifts total announced semiconductor investment above US$900,000,000. Air Products' narrative projects $16.0 billion in revenue and $3.9 billion in earnings by 2029, requiring 8.4% yearly revenue growth and an earnings increase of about $3.9 billion from -$47.3 million today. Three members of the Simply Wall St Community currently place Air Products' fair value in a tight US$342 to US$360 range, against a forecast fair value of $342.42 that implies 20% upside to the current price.

Shares of Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, rose 2.70% to 266.00 baht after the company announced the restart of production at its ROC plant, which has an olefins production capacity of about 1.35 million tonnes per year, from September 17, 2026, after it secured sufficient feedstock from sources outside the Middle East, such as Malaysia, Africa and other sources, for continuous production. SCC is targeting a combined utilisation rate with its MOC plant, which has a capacity of about 2.05 million tonnes per year, of more than 80%, close to pre-war levels. Krungsri Securities Public Company Limited, or KSS, said the restart of ROC within the late third quarter of 2026 was in line with the company's target, and maintained its "buy" recommendation on SCC with a 2027 target price of 315 baht, naming it one of its top picks, and expects SCC's normal profit in 2026-2028 to grow by an average of 110% per year.

Shares of Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, rose 3.09% to 267 baht, up 8.00 baht, leading the Thai stock market after the company resumed production at its Rayong Olefins plant, or ROC, from September 17, 2026, as planned, following the sufficient procurement of feedstock from outside the Middle East, such as Malaysia, Africa and other sources, for continuous production. Krungsri Securities, or KSS, maintained its Buy recommendation and a 2027 target price of 315 baht per share, from a closing price of 259 baht, representing an upside/downside of +22%, and kept SCC as one of its Top Picks. KSS views the resumption of ROC production as reflecting the company's ability to operate and generate profit even amid volatile feedstock prices, and the lifting of force majeure may signal that the study of a joint venture in the olefins business with PTTGC may have options that do not require reducing plant utilization rates. ROC has an olefins production capacity of 1.35 million tons per year, while the MOC plant has a capacity of 2.05 million tons per year, with the company targeting a combined production rate at ROC and MOC of more than 80%, close to the level before the war. KSS expects SCC's normal profit at 18.892 billion baht in 2026, 23.895 billion baht in 2027 and 34.14 billion baht in 2028, or growth of 409.04% in 2026, 26.48% in 2027 and 42.88% in 2028, while it expects EBITDA at 51.109 billion baht, 55.156 billion baht and 66.404 billion baht respectively, and forecasts sales volume growth averaging 10% in 2026-2028 from the LSP plant, with the ethane project expected to start commercial operation in the second half of 2027.

SCC shares rose 2.70%, or 7.00 baht, to 266.00 baht at 10:10 a.m., with trading value of 308.35 million baht, from an opening price of 262.00 baht, a high of 266.00 baht and a low of 261.00 baht, after Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, resumed production at its olefins plant from 17 September 2026 following the lifting of force majeure. Krungsri Securities views the production restart as positive, reflecting a profitable production outlook despite volatile feedstock prices and an uncertain supply chain from the Middle East war, and it may also signal that the study of a JV in the olefins business with PTT Global Chemical, or PTTGC, may have options that do not require cutting production capacity, in order to capture benefits during the recovering petrochemical margin cycle. Krungsri maintained its buy recommendation on SCC with a 2027 target price of 315 baht per share, and it is one of its top picks, with normal profit for 2026-2028 expected to grow at a 110% CAGR, benefiting notably from the petrochemical industry's recovery cycle, with greater cost competitiveness after the ethane project starts COD in the second half of 2027, and as the only player in the petrochemical group expanding production capacity, with sales volume expected to grow an average of 10% in 2026-2028.

Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, has announced it will restart production at its ROC plant, which has an olefins capacity of 1.35 million tonnes per annum, from 17 September 2026, after securing sufficient feedstock outside the Middle East from Malaysia, Africa and other sources to sustain continuous production. The company is targeting an overall production rate, or u-rate, across the MOC plant, which has a capacity of 2.05 million tonnes per annum, of more than 80%, close to pre-war levels. Krungsri Securities views the restart of the ROC plant by the end of the third quarter of 2026, in line with the company's target, as positive, because it reflects the prospect of profitable operations even with volatile feedstock prices, and the lifting of force majeure may signal that the study of a joint venture in the olefins business with PTTGC has options that do not require cutting production runs at the plants. Krungsri Securities maintains a Buy recommendation with a target price of 315 baht for 2027 and lists the stock as one of its top picks, expecting average sales volume growth of 10% in 2026-2028 from the LSP plant and normalised profit growth of 110% CAGR in 2026-2028.

Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, announced that Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, has completed the restart of its olefins plant on 17 September 2026, after a temporary shutdown caused by the situation in the Middle East region. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCC, said ROC had successfully begun the plant restart process after assessing operational readiness and safety standards. An analysis by Bualuang Securities views the news as positive, because ROC's restart will help offset the reduced olefins production capacity of the Map Ta Phut Olefins plant, or MOC, which will decline due to planned maintenance shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2026, keeping olefins output in the fourth quarter of 2026 roughly flat compared with the third quarter of 2026 and helping preserve the company's profitability during that period. The broker maintained its Buy recommendation with a target price of 332 baht.

Siam Cement Group, or SCC, informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand that the olefins plant of its subsidiary Rayong Olefins, or ROC, has resumed normal operations on 17 September 2026 after a temporary shutdown since March due to a force majeure event resulting from Naphtha feedstock supply problems following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The operating rate is expected to gradually return to 80-85%, close to the level before the conflict. Research from Asia Plus Securities views ROC's restart as a key factor supporting the major maintenance shutdown plan of the MOC plant later this year, allowing SCC to maintain continuity in delivering products to customers. Another issue to monitor is the progress of the feasibility study on cooperation between SCGC and PTTGC in the olefins and polyolefins business, which is expected to become clearer by the end of September. The research team maintains a buy recommendation with a fair value of 310 baht per share, viewing ROC's restart as helping reduce uncertainty in the petrochemical business, while the next value drivers come from the LSPE Ethane and CBM Transformation projects, as well as the opportunity to create synergies from the cooperation between SCGC and PTTGC.

Ashland has put a new US$1b share repurchase plan on the table, doubling its prior authorization as management leans into cost savings and portfolio pruning to support margins and free cash flow. The buyback news comes as Ashland's share price has slipped 5.24% over the past 30 days, though the stock's year-to-date share price return of 16.57% and 1-year total shareholder return of 38.46% point to momentum building around the cost savings and buyback story. Ashland's most followed valuation narrative pegs fair value at $80.18 against a last close of $69.77, a roughly 13% discount, while a separate earnings-based view flags the stock's P/E of 42.6x against a fair ratio of 26.6x, a US Chemicals sector average of 23.2x, and a peer group closer to 20.7x. The company's specialty chemicals portfolio is positioned around high-value, sustainable, and compliant solutions, which is expected to support top-line revenue growth and margin resilience over the long term. The story could still break if demand softness in key export markets keeps squeezing Specialty Additives, or if portfolio pruning leaves growth and earnings more fragile than expected.

The Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, announced that the olefins plant of its subsidiary Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, successfully began its restart process on 17 September 2026, after a temporary shutdown caused by the situation in the Middle East. The company had notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 10 March 2026 and had completed its assessment of operational readiness and safety standards. Analysts at Asia Plus Securities view ROC's restart as a key factor supporting the planned major maintenance shutdown of the MOC plant later this year, allowing SCC to maintain continuity in delivering products to customers. Meanwhile, the fourth quarter of 2026, normally the industry's low season, carries only limited risk of lower sales volumes, supporting the view that ROC has a chance to operate continuously after this restart. Another issue to watch is progress in the study of cooperation between SCGC and PTTGC in the olefins and polyolefins businesses, which is expected to become clearer by the end of September. If it leads to a consolidation of production capacity and improved asset management efficiency as the market expects, it would help raise the competitiveness of Thailand's petrochemical industry over the long term, even though pressure remains from new capacity gradually entering the market during 2027-2028. The research team maintains its Buy recommendation with a fair value of 310 baht per share, viewing ROC's restart as helping to reduce uncertainty in the petrochemical business, while the next value drivers come from the LSPE Ethane and CBM Transformation projects and the potential for synergies from cooperation between SCGC and PTTGC.

KCG Corporation, or KCG, announced its first-half 2026 operating results with a net profit of 276.8 million baht, up 25.2%, driven by efficient management of production costs and expenses despite challenging macroeconomic factors. Chief Executive Officer Dumrongchai Wipawattanakul expressed confidence that profit will continue to grow in the second half. Meanwhile, Sermsang Power Corporation, or SSP, reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of 325.1 million baht and electricity sales revenue of 1,572.1 million baht, following revenue recognition from the Leo 2 solar farm and increased power generation from SPN's repowering. Warut Thammawaranukup noted that business trends in the second half will grow prominently, with plans to sell power from two community waste-to-energy plants by year-end, and expressed confidence that power generation volume will more than double by 2028. Separately, Demco, or DEMCO, reported a first-half 2026 net profit of 30.2 million baht, up 519.4% from the same period last year. Chief Executive Officer Nattapong Korom said the current backlog stands at 2,699 million baht, to be gradually recognized as revenue within 2028, while the company pursues new business investment opportunities. Northeast Rubber, or NER, received an AGM Checklist assessment for 2026 at the excellent level of a full 100 points for the third consecutive year, and Starflex, or SFLEX, received an AGM Checklist score for 2026 in the 90–99 range, or the 4 gold-star level.

Cabot received a US$50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy on 17 September 2026 to expand battery materials capacity. The specialty chemicals producer, valued at US$4.1b, plans to redirect its advanced battery materials expansion from an initially planned Michigan facility to brownfield sites in Louisiana and Texas. Cabot intends to pair the federal funding with its own capital to expand domestic production of materials used in energy storage applications, focusing on conductive additives tied to battery energy storage systems for data centers and grid support. The DOE-backed expansion into Louisiana and Texas is only one part of what this funding shift means for Cabot's future plans, and the company is now running a complex two-site program while relying on cost reduction and network optimisation to support profitability. The pivot aligns with multi-year trends also targeted by Albemarle and Umicore, though Cabot focuses on specialty additives rather than raw battery metals.

Steel Dynamics shares closed up 2.99% at $245.35, outpacing the S&P 500's 1.14% gain. The company's upcoming quarterly results are projected to show EPS of $5.87, a 114.23% increase from the prior-year quarter, on revenue of $6.22 billion, up 28.86%. Full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates call for earnings of $18.27 per share and revenue of $23.63 billion, representing year-over-year changes of +128.66% and +30.02%, respectively. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has risen 6.95%, and Steel Dynamics currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The stock trades at a Forward P/E of 13.1, a discount to its industry's average of 14.99, with a PEG ratio of 0.43.

Freeport-McMoRan closed at $70.84, up 2.3% and outpacing the S&P 500's 1.14% gain, as analysts project strong earnings growth for the mining company. The company is expected to report earnings per share of $0.73 for the upcoming quarter, a 46% increase from the same quarter last year, on revenue of $7.07 billion, up 1.4%. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $2.82 per share and revenue of $28.61 billion, representing growth of 59.32% and 10.4%, respectively. Over the past 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has risen 1.28%, and Freeport-McMoRan currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 24.59, slightly above its industry average of 24.39, while its PEG ratio of 0.68 compares favorably with the Mining - Non Ferrous industry average of 0.9.

Allied Gold Corporation said the Kurmuk Mine in Ethiopia has energized its power line to the national grid and fed first ore through the crushing circuit as the project moves toward completing commissioning and transitioning to operations. The 88-kilometre, 132-kV power line and related substations were completed by Ethiopian Electric Power and now supply sufficient power to finish commissioning and advance ramp-up, under a 20-year power purchase agreement at a fixed rate of approximately US$0.04 per kilowatt-hour. Earlier this month first ore was delivered to the commissioned crushing circuit, and the full handover of that circuit from the commissioning team to the operations team is underway, with first ore expected in the grinding circuit in the coming weeks and first gold to follow soon thereafter. Mining continues to advance as planned, with an ore stockpile of approximately one million tonnes established and planned to grow to nearly 1.5 million tonnes, or three months of ore feed ahead of full circuit commissioning, initially from the Dish Mountain and Ashashire open pits. The mine holds 2.7 million ounces of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves and is expected to produce 240,000 to 270,000 ounces in its first full year and approximately 300,000 ounces the following year, averaging at least 240,000 ounces per year over an initial 15-year mine life.

King Gen Public Company Limited, or KGEN, disclosed that Rayong Wire Industries Public Company Limited, or RWI, has taken a stake in KGEN through a private placement subscription of newly issued ordinary shares worth no more than 250 million baht, at a price of no more than 1.35 baht per share, representing approximately 7.68% of the shares after the capital increase, with total investment of no more than 252 million baht. RWI will also receive the right to subscribe to KGEN-W3 warrants in proportion to its existing shareholding, worth no more than 2 million baht. The maximum transaction size of 24.67% qualifies as a Type 3 transaction, which requires approval from a shareholders' meeting by a vote of no less than three-quarters. An extraordinary shareholders' meeting, the first of 2026, has been scheduled for Thursday, October 22, 2026. Khanit Sivachiraprapha, Chairman of the Advisory Board of KGEN, said the partnership will strengthen the domestic supply chain for automotive parts production, in line with the policy of increasing the use of locally made parts in electric vehicle production under cooperation with the CHERY brand. RWI specialises in the production of cold-drawn steel, which is used to make automotive parts. KGEN has so far produced 20,000 vehicles, with EV production capacity of approximately 5,000 vehicles per month, and expects capacity to rise by another 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles in the final three months of the year, bringing total production for the year to around 40,000 vehicles. Year-end bookings are expected to accelerate on the back of the Motor Expo in December, where two to three new electric vehicle models will be unveiled. The company has also signed an agreement to support a transport fleet for J&T Express, including the use of electric pickup trucks for deliveries of no more than 400 kilometres.

Factorial Energy shares jumped 14.4% in Thursday's trading after the company said it will partner with Japan's Mitsui Kinzoku to accelerate the global scale-up of its Solstice all-solid-state battery platform. Mitsui Kinzoku produces sulfide-based solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries and is one of few companies worldwide with foundational technology in this space, Factorial said. The Japanese company also produces ultra-thin copper foil and holds an estimated 90% share of the semiconductor market for that foil. Mitsui Kinzoku Senior Executive Officer Kiyotaka Yasuda said the two companies aim to accelerate the realization of next-generation batteries by combining Mitsui Kinzoku's long-established expertise in materials and manufacturing technologies with Factorial's advanced technological capabilities. Factorial Energy shares began trading on Nasdaq in June following the completion of its business combination with Cartesian Growth Corporation III.

Starflex Public Company Limited, or SFLEX, a leading domestic manufacturer and distributor of flexible plastic packaging, disclosed that its operating performance in the third and fourth quarters of 2026 is expected to continue growing from the second quarter of 2026, which set a new record high. The company has invested in 10 additional machines for producing and attaching spout caps, on top of its existing 11 machines, to handle orders that have nearly doubled. As for its joint venture with Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, or TU, under Star Union Packaging, in which SFLEX holds a 51% stake, the project was delayed by about six months due to the conflict situation around the Strait of Hormuz. However, TU has now approved all orders and will begin gradually sending orders starting in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the first SKU in the packaging group for salmon products expected to generate revenue of approximately 100 million baht. For 2026, SFLEX is maintaining its revenue target at approximately 2.1 billion baht, up from about 1.9 billion baht in 2025.

Barrick Mining Corporation shares rose 1.2% to $43.06 in pre-market trading after coverage was initiated with a Buy rating, with the source of that rating not identified in the announcement. The new recommendation coincided with Bernstein lowering its price target for Barrick to $56.50 from $61, a figure that remains above the pre-market share price. Separately, Barrick reported that second-quarter 2026 net earnings increased by approximately 50% compared with the same period a year earlier, though the company did not announce new financial guidance. The moves came as gold prices recovered above $4,300 per ounce after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.75%–4.00%, its first increase in three years, with policymakers indicating the possibility of another increase before the end of 2026. Major US equity indices also advanced, with the S&P 500 up 0.9%, the Dow Jones up 0.8% and the Nasdaq up 1.1%.

Siam Cement Group, or SCC, announced that Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, successfully began restarting its olefins plant on 17 September 2026, after completing assessments of operational readiness and safety standards. SCC had notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand on 10 March 2026 that it had temporarily halted operations at ROC's olefins plant due to the situation in the Middle East region.

SCG Packaging, or SCGP, has closed a deal to acquire a 90% stake in Jinjongfa Paper Industry Co., Ltd., or JZF, a paper packaging producer in Chonburi province, for 68 million baht. The investment will add 28,000 tonnes per year of production capacity, expand its customer base among Chinese customers and the fruit export market, improve cost and logistics management efficiency, and capture growth opportunities in the packaging business in the eastern region. SCGP will begin recognizing JZF's operating results in its consolidated financial statements from October 2026 onward. Wichan Jitpukdee, Chief Executive Officer of SCGP, said JZF is a corrugated paper box packaging producer that emphasizes efficient cost management, has a core customer base of operators in the fruit export market to China, and has a factory in Chonburi province, a strategic location close to customers in the eastern region. In 2025, JZF had revenue of 205 million baht, total assets of 240 million baht, and production capacity of 28,000 tonnes per year. The investment aligns with SCGP's strategic plan to expand its consumer goods packaging business in the ASEAN region, while creating synergies in operations, cost and trade management, and the sale of other related products and services. It also helps distribute existing fruit packaging orders to JZF to increase margins across the business group through cost management and reduced logistics expenses.

Siam Cement Group, or SCC, has notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand that Rayong Olefins, or ROC, successfully began restarting its olefins plant on 17 September 2026, after completing assessments of operational readiness and safety standards. The restart follows a temporary shutdown of the plant on 10 March 2026, a halt of approximately six months. The shutdown was caused by the situation in the Middle East. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of Siam Cement Group, reported the information to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Disclosure filings released after the September 17 market close produced a full slate of positive and negative developments relevant to investment decisions. On the positive side, Apple International raised its ordinary profit forecast for the current fiscal year by 18% and increased its dividend by 5 yen; Choshimaru reversed its current-year ordinary profit outlook to a 21% increase, projecting a record high for the first time in three terms along with a 1 yen dividend hike; Kasumigaseki Capital raised its prior-year ordinary profit forecast by 7%, adding to its record-high projection; and Hobonichi raised its prior-year ordinary profit forecast by 67%. In M&A, Saint Marc Holdings will take over the udon specialty restaurant business Tsurutontan from K Express for 12.8 billion yen, while B-style Holdings will acquire all shares of HR Asocié for 1.21 billion yen, making it a subsidiary. Ferrotec will launch a tender offer for Japan Resistor Manufacturing at 1,901 yen per share, a 49.1% premium to the September 17 closing price, aiming to make it a wholly owned subsidiary, while Nippon Seiki will buy back up to 3.61 million shares, or 6.27% of its outstanding shares, for a maximum of 9.979 billion yen. On the negative side, Chubu Steel Plate reversed its current-year ordinary profit outlook to a 46% decline; PharmaRise Holdings ended the June-August quarter with a 31% drop in ordinary profit; Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corporation is expected to post a 2% decline in current-year ordinary profit; Advance Residence Investment Corporation a 6% decline; and Ichigo Hotel REIT Investment Corporation an 18% decline.

Siam Cement Public Company Limited, or SCC, disclosed that the olefins plant of its subsidiary Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, successfully began its restart process on 17 September 2026. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCC, said the restart came after the company had completed an assessment of operational readiness and safety standards. Previously, on 10 March 2026, SCC notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand that ROC had temporarily halted operations at the olefins plant due to the situation in the Middle East.