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

0911 ET - Oil futures are sharply higher on concerns the U.S. could be preparing for renewed strikes on Iran while Hurricane Isaias heads for the U.S. Gulf coast, shutting in production. "Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia, speculation over a resumption of U.S. military strikes against Iran, and President Trump's stated preference against a deal combine to paint a volatile geopolitical backdrop," says Nikos Tzabouras of Tradu. But the picture isn't "uniformly bullish," he adds, noting gradual increases in supply and the G7 commitment to release additional reserves. WTI is up 4.7% at $92.46 a barrel and Brent gains 4.5% to $104.76 a barrel. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

0831 ET - Legrand should report a positive overall third-quarter result and either back its full-year guidance or make a modest upgrade, J.P. Morgan analysts write. The French electrical equipment supplier raised its 2026 guidance in July, and now forecasts constant currency sales growth of 16%-19% compared with 10% to 15% previously. JPM has an overweight rating on the stock and 200.00 euro target price. Shares are down 0.85% at 139.95 euros, but up around 10% over the year-to-date. (ian.walker@wsj.com)

0820 ET - Schneider Electric doesn't seem to have convinced investors of the merits of its proposed $22.6 billion acquisition of U.S. software maker PTC, and it will take time for the deal to be digested, Jefferies analysts say in a research note. Most investors don't understand the need to invest as much in the French engineering group's industrial-automation division, the analysts say. The company could ease some of those concerns by completing a capital increase quickly and presenting a clear plan to deliver synergies, Jefferies says. Addressing the AI disruption risk will be more difficult, especially given that the deal will take about a year to close, the analysts add. Jefferies raises its target price on Schneider's stock to 323 euros from 289 euros. Shares rise 0.3% to 255.40 euros. (adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

0357 ET - European natural-gas prices climb back above 80 euros a megawatt-hour as concerns over continued attacks on shipping in the Gulf raised fresh questions about the security of LNG supplies. According to a Bloomberg report, Qatar had assembled a fleet of at least 12 empty LNG tankers in the Persian Gulf, suggesting it was preparing to resume or increase shipments. However, intensifying attacks on vessels in the region have heightened concerns over the safety of transits. In early trading, the benchmark Dutch TTF contract rose 3.2% to 80.59 euros a megawatt-hour. Meanwhile, European Union underground natural-gas storage facilities are currently 72% full, according to data from industry group Gas Infrastructure Europe, well below the seasonal average. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0344 ET - Oil prices climb more than 3.5% as attacks on shipping in the Gulf intensified, while Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday as a hurricane. A tanker sailing off Qatar's northern coast was struck by multiple projectiles in the latest attack reported this week, according to a British maritime security agency. Meanwhile, media reports said President Donald Trump and his national security team had discussed the possibility of launching strikes against Iranian targets before next month's midterm elections. At the same time, some major producers in the Gulf of Mexico have started evacuating workers and halting production ahead of Isaias, adding to concerns about potential supply disruptions. In early European trading, Brent crude rises 3.9% to $104.09 a barrel, while WTI gains 3.7% to $91.60 a barrel. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0333 ET - Yields on U.K. government bonds, or gilts, rise as accelerating oil prices raise concerns about inflation and the possibility of interest-rate rises by the Bank of England. Brent crude climbs 3.6% to $103.8 a barrel. Markets price in an 83% chance of a BOE rate increase in November and fully expect four rate hikes by September 2027, LSEG data show. Ten-year gilt yields rise 4 basis points to last trade at 5.483%, Tradeweb data show. (miriam.mukuru@wsj.com)

0331 ET - Shell's third-quarter adjusted earnings should rise 14% quarter-on-quarter to $11.2 billion, HSBC analyst Kim Fustier writes. The British energy major's quarterly performance update contained few surprises, with very strong refining margins and robust oil and gas trading being the key elements, she says. The record margins will more than offset a fall in refinery utilization rates, she adds. Shares trade 1.1% higher at 3,688 pence.(adam.whittaker@wsj.com)

0253 ET - Bitcoin falls to a two-and-a-half-week low following declines in U.S. stocks overnight as Treasury yields rise and oil prices rally amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Bitcoin's correlation to U.S. equities is rising while the surge in yields along with the dollar creates a difficult environment for speculative assets that depend heavily on liquidity and lower real yields adjusted for inflation, Zaye Capital Markets analyst Naeem Aslam says in a note. "The immediate direction depends less on crypto-specific headlines and more on whether Treasury yields, the dollar and inflation expectations begin to ease." Bitcoin falls 0.9% to $82,683, having earlier reached as low as $82,265, LSEG data show.(renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0249 ET - After promising industrial production data and encouraging recent sentiment indicators, weaker German export data undermine the recent narrative of German industrial resilience, ING's Carsten Brzeski says in a note. "While German exporters benefited from Asian competitors being hit harder by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the second quarter, the third quarter so far has been a setback," he says. Exports declined 0.8% on month in August, after a 0.5% fall, which taken together could also be a sign of low water levels in Germany's rivers affecting the economy. France's fiscal difficulties could raise further trouble ahead. France accounts for more than 7% of German exports, meaning economic weakness there is unlikely to leave Germany unscathed, Brzeski says. (edward.frankl@wsj.com)

0218 ET - PTT Exploration & Production's earnings stand to benefit from likely increases in oil prices, CGS International's Amornrat Cheevavichawakul says in a research report. The 'Dated Brent' crude price has stayed above $120.00 a barrel this week, which probably reflects risk premium embedded in physical spot cargoes, the analyst says. Geopolitical risks in the Middle East could keep Brent crude prices elevated in 4Q. Also, the need to rebuild depleted oil inventories could provide further support to oil prices. The brokerage lifts its 2026-2028 EPS forecasts for the Thai petroleum explorer and producer by 7.0%-12.4%. It raises the stock's target price to 175.00 baht from 165.00 baht with an unchanged add rating. Shares are 1.0% higher at 148.50 baht.