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

0317 GMT - Palm oil rises in Asian trading, driven by a technical rebound after four consecutive sessions of declines, AmInvestment Bank says in a note. India's decision to halve import duties on crude palm oil and soybean oil to 5% is also supporting prices, it says. Still, near-term sentiment is cautious following the recent price weakness, making sustained buying interest important, it adds. AmInvestment Bank advises traders to watch the CPO support level at around 4,700 ringgit a ton and resistance near 4,850 ringgit-4,900 ringgit a ton. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for December delivery is 34 ringgit higher at 4,803 ringgit a ton. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0306 GMT - Iron ore is lower in early Asian trading. Prices are under pressure due to relatively weak fundamentals, according to Baocheng Futures analysts in a research note. "Steel mills are facing poor profitability...demand for iron ore is expected to remain weak, continuing to weigh on ore prices," the analysts say. Active supply outside China also adds pressure on the metal's price, they say. The most-traded iron-ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange is down 0.3% at 711.5 yuan a ton. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)

0239 GMT - Copper falls in early Asian trade. Mining has been suspended at the Escondida mine in Chile, the world's biggest copper operation, following the death of a worker, BHP Group said. It didn't say when mining might restart. Copper prices have been trading near-record highs, driven by supply challenges at a number of key mines worldwide. The three-month LME copper contract is 0.1% lower at $14,599.50 a ton.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)

0203 GMT - Seasonal air pollution remains a persistent challenge in Southeast Asia, but European investors aren't allowing the recurring haze in Indonesia to derail their regional commitments, says Chris Humphrey, executive director at the EU-Asean Business Council, in an interview. The recurring agricultural fires in Indonesia haven't damped European businesses' investment and growth outlook for Southeast Asia, he says. However, the region needs to step up efforts to tackle the problem, while Indonesia should work to prevent farmers and plantation owners from burning crops, he adds. Such efforts could also be supported through cooperation between Indonesia and dialogue partners such as the European Union, he says, adding that this year's haze has been exacerbated by climate-change related issues. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0047 GMT - Site visits to Evolution Mining's Cowal and Northparkes operations showed that "clear growth opportunities lie ahead," says UBS. It upgrades the stock to buy from neutral, and raises its target to 16.00 Australian dollars a share from A$15.20. "As EVN advances these initiatives, we update our modelling to reflect a pathway to over 900,000 oz per annum of gold and circa 120,000 tons per annum of copper production by FY32, driven by upside potential at Cowal, with no material changes to near-term numbers," UBS says. Cowal, which generates roughly 40% of the company's free cash flow today, continues to offer the most compelling growth options in Evolution's portfolio, says the bank. Shares are down 1.7% at A$13.71. (rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)

2342 GMT - Gold starts the Asia session virtually flat, staying under $4,300 a troy ounce as a rebound in oil prices and Treasury yields overnight pressure the precious metal. While rising U.S. fiscal risks, the declining haven appeal of Treasurys and sustained demand from China offer structural tailwinds, a hawkish Fed and Bank of Japan cloud the near-term outlook, says Elara Capital's Garima Kapoor. For the next two to three quarters, hawkish policy, a firm dollar and elevated U.S. real rates could constrain the metal's upside. "We expect gold to trade in the range of $4,200-4,700 an ounce for the rest of [2026] before rising to $5,000-$5,200 an ounce by end-[2027] as the pace and magnitude of central bank hawkish policy action softens," Elara Capital says. Gold last flat at $4,287. (fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com)

1954 GMT - Oil futures settle higher following five sessions of losses, with WTI rising 1.8% to $92.16 a barrel and Brent up 3.9% to $103.08 a barrel. U.S. weekly inventory data were seen bearish for oil as crude stocks rose by 3 million barrels, putting inventories 2% above the five-year average. Product stocks remain tighter, with gasoline inventories 6% below average for the time of year and distillate stocks 12% below average. "Ironically, the only bearish distillate data in today's report was distillate exports down 283,000 barrels a day to a nearly three-month low of 1.331 million barrels a day," Mizuho's Robert Yawger says in a note. The report came as the Trump administration is considering a diesel export ban to lower domestic prices. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1939 GMT - Natural gas futures post back-to-back gains with the October contract settling above $3 per million British thermal units after numerous failed attempts recently. With the market in a shoulder month, moves to $3 tend to prompt a pullback, says long-time natural gas trader John Woods. "Every time you get up there you take some profit because you don't want to be long, even at $2.95 and above because you have no push after that," he says. "This pattern has been going on for a good month." Nymex gas settles up 2% at $3.023/mmBtu, its highest close since July 8. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1916 GMT - U.S. diesel futures fall as the market weighs news that the Trump administration is considering implementing restrictions on diesel exports. Secretary Chris Wright hinted at a voluntary cap, rather than ban in a WSJ interview. An export ban could create more problems than it solves, says Phil Flynn of the Price Futures Group in a note. Exports are an outlet for U.S. Gulf Coast refiners to keep running hard, he says. "Cut that outlet and storage fills up. Then they cut runs...they don't just make less diesel--they make less gasoline and jet fuel too. That's how you turn a diesel problem into a broader fuel problem." The key to solving the diesel issue is a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and an end to broader refining disruptions overseas, he adds. Front-month Nymex diesel settles down 3.4% at $4.7764 a gallon. AAA reports the current average price at $6.5217 a gallon, near a record high. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1909 GMT - Live cattle futures on the CME settled up 1.2% to $2.22175 a pound, resuming an upward trend seen in cattle futures in the past month. Cattle has been gradually pushing higher after finding a low around $2.10 a pound in early September. That comes even though the U.S.-Mexico border has been gradually reopening after being closed in an effort to control the spread of New World screwworm. Cattle is also trending higher ahead of Friday's Cold Storage report from the USDA. Lean hog futures settle the day down 0.9% to 70.375 cents a pound. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)

1841 GMT - McDonald's doesn't expect the challenging environment from the past few years to change in the near future, Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski says on CNBC. He expects traffic in the fast-food industry will remain flat and inflation will stay elevated going forward. "We need to stop talking about that being a difficult environment and just say that is the environment, because as we look out forward, we're not expecting things to change," he says. To grow, Kempczinski says McDonald's needs to focus on gaining share from competitors. His focus is increasing share for chicken and beverages, he says. McDonald's falls 5%. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)

1817 GMT - A potential plan to implement restrictions on diesel exports may have implications for farmers harvesting crops. Energy Secretary Chris Wright hinted at a voluntary cap, rather than ban in a WSJ interview. On one hand, it could make diesel cheaper for farmers in the Midwest and Gulf Coast, says Jim Wiesemeyer of Ag Bull, citing research from the Atlantic Council. "Farmers buying fuel during that period could benefit, although savings would depend on local delivery prices and purchase timing," he says in a note. But on the other hand, it could lead to refineries lowering their throughput with could actually raise prices, says Wiesemeyer. CBOT grain futures are lower, with corn down 1.3%, soybeans off 0.6%, and wheat 1.4% lower.