The latest Market Talks covering Financial Services. Exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires at 4:20 ET, 12:20 ET and 16:50 ET.

1356 ET - Digital banks such as Revolut and Monzo have the opportunity to gain market share from traditional banks, Morgan Stanley says in a note. The banks have been quick to grow deposits and accounts, the analysts say. However, incumbents continue to defend, and in some cases regain, market share. Some incumbents including JPMorgan and Santander have launched their own digital banks. True market disruption from digital banks requires very high rates, incumbent participation and regulatory pressure, the analysts say. Digital banks also have more room to grow in lending, particularly with mortgages. (katherine.hamilton@wsj.com)

1228 ET - Chime Financial pursuing a bank charter was always an inevitability given its ambitions to serve as the number one U.S. provider of primary bank accounts, CEO Chris Britt tells CNBC following the company's announcement of a $590 million acquisition of Stride Bank. "It felt like the time was right, given the changes in technology, the regulatory window that's open, and most importantly, the confidence that we have in this incredible team at Stride," Britt says. The deal will reduce Chime's reliance on third parties and increase its velocity of innovation, he adds. Chime shares gain 4.9%. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)

0932 ET - Bancorp investors are fretting that Chime's plans to acquire Stride Bank could spell a major headwind. Chime indicated that it ultimately expects to consolidate its banking activities at Stride, representing a direct risk for Bancorp given its been a key Chime banking partner for years, alongside Stride, Raymond James analysts say in a note. Still, the analysts say the market appears to be overlooking protections included in Chime and Bancorp's contract, as well as opportunities to mitigate some of the pressure or replace Chime with other partners, or more broadly diversify Bancorp's fintech franchise, they say. Bancorp shares slide 20% to $51.60. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

0917 ET - Robinhood could be in for a big boost when AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI go public, Mizuho analysts say in a note. The analysts highlight how SpaceX's IPO in June, and the elevated tech sentiment afterward, drove a roughly 24% month-over-month increase in equity volumes, and helped the company add about 1 million funded customers in 2Q, its biggest quarterly gain in almost five years. "If the post-SpaceX elevated retail trading environment were to repeat itself, the anticipated AI IPOs in October and in 2027 could meaningfully boost HOOD's trading volumes," the analysts say. They now forecast the company's 4Q equity volumes will increase about 50% year-over-year, up from their prior projection for 16% growth.(kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

0734 ET - U.A.E. banks remain well positioned to absorb potential capital outflows despite elevated regional geopolitical risks, S&P Global Ratings says. The banking system held about $247 billion in net external assets at the end of June, equivalent to roughly 42% of domestic loans and the strongest position among GCC banking systems. A large and diversified domestic deposit base and high-quality liquid assets provide an additional buffer, while banks' direct credit exposure to sectors most vulnerable to the conflict remains limited, S&P says. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

0727 ET - U.A.E. banks continue to lead lending growth in the Gulf despite regional geopolitical disruption, Kamco Invest says. Gross loans at U.A.E.-listed banks rise 4.5% from the previous quarter in the second quarter, the strongest increase among GCC markets, while central-bank data show systemwide credit growth of 18.1% on year. The lending outlook also remains firm, with First Abu Dhabi Bank raising its full-year loan-growth guidance to the upper end of its low-to-mid-teens range, Kamco says. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

0720 ET - Lending growth at Gulf banks rebounds in the second quarter, suggesting the slowdown following the outbreak of regional conflict was relatively short-lived, Kamco Invest says. Gross lending at 55 listed GCC banks rises 2.6% from the previous quarter to a record $2.59 trillion, with all six GCC markets recording sequential growth. The recovery follows an eight-quarter low in lending growth in the first quarter. Aggregate net profit also reaches a record $17.7 billion, up 7.2% on year, showing continued resilience despite regional disruption. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

0717 ET - Saudi banks are increasingly relying on debt markets for funding as lending growth continues to outpace deposit growth, Kamco Invest says. The loan-to-deposit ratio at Saudi-listed banks remains above 100% for a third consecutive quarter, pointing to a structural funding gap in the sector. Saudi issuers raised $49.3 billion through bonds and sukuk in the first half of 2026, accounting for 48% of GCC issuance, as wholesale debt markets take a larger role in meeting funding needs, Kamco says. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

0716 ET - European banking stocks slide as higher oil and gas prices raise the prospect of a sustained inflation shock. The Stoxx 600 Banks index trades 2.5% lower after Brent crude topped $100 a barrel and natural gas prices on the continent hit a three-year high. The fall arrests a steady rally in European banks, with the Europe-wide sector gauge up around 23% so far this year. Major losers include HSBC in London--down 2.3%--and Spain's Santander losing 3.6%. In Paris, BNP Paribas drops 2.6%. Meanwhile, analysts warn that European banks are in line for higher taxes, according to a Bloomberg report published Wednesday. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)

0421 ET - China's export strength has proven to be a "double-edged sword" for China's economy, according to BofA Securities in a research note. "On the one hand, robust external demand has provided a critical buffer against weak domestic demand, helping keep overall growth on track to meet the lower bound of the government's 4.5% growth target," the bank says. However, persistently strong export performance, has reduced the urgency for policymakers to deliver additional easing measures, BofA says. Policymakers has refrained from announcing fresh stimulus at the July Politburo meeting, opting instead to emphasize more effective implementation of existing policies, they say. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)

0350 ET - China's underlying demand conditions remain subdued despite the rebound in the inflation measures, says Barclays analysts in a note. Inflation data showed a modest re-acceleration in August, driven primarily by higher energy and commodity prices, they add. The PPI inflation picked up to 3.8% on year, reversing July's moderation, as higher crude oil and non-ferrous metal prices lifted upstream sectors, while AI-related manufacturing industries continued to benefit from the global AI investment cycle and recorded further price rises, they say. Within PPI, the divergence between producer and consumer goods prices persisted, suggesting that upstream price increases have yet to fully transmit downstream, they add. (jiahui.huang@wsj.com; @ivy_jiahuihuang)

0101 ET - Bank of Japan's hasty rate increases could delay a recovery in consumption and other domestic demand, Crédit Agricole says in a note. Inadequate monetary and fiscal support could disrupt momentum in capital expenditures amid heightened geopolitical risks, the French bank says. Weak capex would leave Japan behind in the global competition for strategic investments and impair future supply capacity, the bank says. It is crucial for Japan to continue supporting the capex cycle while alleviating the negative impact of a cheap yen through foreign-exchange intervention and other economic measures, Crédit Agricole says.