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

1252 ET - Accenture recorded $84.5B in new bookings in its latest fiscal year because of its strategy to hone in on big transformational deals, AI and data, CEO Julie Sweet says. "We're firing on all cylinders because we have stayed focused on what our clients need," Sweet says during an appearance on CNBC. Sweet says companies need to change the way they operate to get value out of AI. "We're that bridge between AI and outcomes." (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

1221 ET -- Abu Dhabi leads major Gulf stocks lower, with its benchmark index falling 0.7%. Qatar's QE Index declines 0.6%, while the Dubai Financial Market General Index and Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index each lose 0.5%. The MSCI GCC Index fell 3.5% in September, its steepest monthly decline in 10 months, as geopolitical risks, higher oil prices and expectations for higher-for-longer interest rates weighed on regional markets, Kamco Invest says. The weakness was broad-based across sectors, with banks and energy both falling around 2%, while real estate was the only sector to gain. (farhan.rafid@wsj.com)

1139 ET - Enerflex could be looking at roughly $450 million of potential revenue from its 450 megawatt power award, and it is preparing for more. The company won a major Engineered Systems award for behind-the-meter natural gas-fired generation for a North American data center developer as digital infrastructure providers look for energy outside of regional electric grids. In a TD Cowen report, analyst Aaron MacNeil estimates that the company is looking at roughly $1 million per megawatt of power for the contract--revenue that will be realized through 2027 and 2028--and which will be incremental to TD's forecast. "This single award is meaningfully above our existing assumption of $50 million/quarter of power-related ES [Engineered Systems] revenue," MacNeil says. Shares are up 15%. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)

1128 ET - As Accenture looks to help its clients go all in on AI, the professional-services firm says it's also embracing the technology internally. "AI is making both our own delivery and the technologies we implement more efficient, consistent with prior technology waves," CEO Julie Sweet says during a call with analysts. "Our strategy is to lean into these efficiencies precisely because they create value for our clients, while continuing to invest and rotate our capabilities to capture the larger growth opportunities AI creates." (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

1117 ET - Enerflex is accelerating its push into the world of digital infrastructure, securing a contract to supply 450 megawatt of off-grid, natural gas-fired power generation for a North American data center developer. The strain from energy bottlenecks has forced digital infrastructure providers to seek out alternatives to bypass local and regional grids, connecting directly to power sources, such as nuclear or gas-powered. Enerflex is committing $15 million in 2026 capex and authorizing $85 million for facility expansions in 2027 to improve its Engineered Systems capacity. CEO Paul Mahoney says the company has over 2 gigawatts of opportunity pipeline to tap into and to convert into "meaningful commercial awards." Shares are up 17%. (adriano.marchese@wsj.com)

1106 ET - Accenture sees AI as a tailwind for its business, a belief that runs counter to investors' concerns in recent months over whether the technology could replace some of the work it does for clients. "We continue to believe the opportunities related to AI are greater than the impact of AI related efficiencies in our business, and we expect that to continue as AI enables enterprises to do much more," CEO Julie Sweet says during a call with analysts. The comments come alongside better-than-expected quarterly results. The stock gains 18% to $217.45, on pace for its largest percent increase on record. (kelly.cloonan@wsj.com)

0942 ET - Competition from new brands selling soccer products seems positive for the sporting goods industry, says Regis Schultz, chief executive of JD Sports Fashion. Earlier this month, Swiss sports company On Holding said it would expand its portfolio to include soccer products after signing Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe-who is leaving its partnership with Nike--to serve as the face of the new category. On also intends to branch out into golf, seeking to boost its profile as a global sport-products retailer. "Having a new way of looking at [soccer] is great," Schultz says. "It is always good to have innovation and it shows that there are things to be done in our industry," he says. (andrea.figueras@wsj.com)

0942 ET - Continental is expected to have had a strong third quarter and could upgrade its full-year guidance when the company reports earnings, UBS analysts write. "We would expect Continental to guide towards the very top end of the FY26 range, particularly given that Q4 is not typically a seasonally weaker quarter," they say. The German tire maker had forecast sales of between 13.2 billion euros and 14.2 billion euros and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 12.0%-13.5%. The analysts add that free cash flow is expected to be "neutral to slightly positive" in the third quarter, consistent with normal seasonal patterns. UBS has a buy rating on the stock and 90.00-euro target price. Shares are up 0.2% at 67.26 euros.(ian.walker@wsj.com)

0916 ET - UBS says Roger Lynch's track record as Condé Nast CEO positions him relatively well to lead Mattel. The toy company has spent the past several years trying to transform from a traditional toy manufacturer into a diversified, IP-driven entertainment company, and Lynch, a current board member of Mattel, has been focused on unlocking greater value from Condé Nast's iconic brands, the analysts say. He has extended brands beyond their core products using video, live experiences, commerce, and strategic partnerships. "That experience can be relevant to Mattel's strategy of leveraging its IP more successfully," UBS says. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

0915 ET - RBC Capital Markets lowers Banco Santander's net interest income and fees forecasts and raises restructuring charge estimates for 2028, analyst Benjamin Toms writes. RBC reduces its target price on the stock to 13.25 euros from 13.50 previously, but reiterates its outperform recommendation. The Canadian bank lowers its 2028 adjusted pretax profit estimate for Santander by 2%, driven by a fall in Chile net interest income, along with lower revenue and higher costs in the rest of the group. This is partially offset by the Brazilian and Spanish divisions. RBC's 2028 estimate for reported return on tangible equity of 19.9% compares with Santander's guidance of over 20%. Shares are down 1.5% at 12.14 euros. (michael.hennessey@wsj.com)

0911 ET - Magnum Ice Cream is well positioned to upgrade its full-year organic sales growth forecast when the company reports third-quarter earnings later this month, UBS analysts Guillaume Delmas and Andrei Condrea write. They say the company--which was spun out from Unilever last December--could raise OSG guidance "toward the top-end of the 3%-5% range," from 3%-5%. UBS expects the company to report OSG of 5.3% and organic volume growth of 3.7% for the third quarter, compared with 4.8% and 2.3% respectively in 2Q. Magnum is due to report its 3Q update on Oct. 29. UBS has a buy rating on the stock and 18.30-euro target price. Shares are down 2.4% at 15.33 euros but 13% higher over the year-to-date. (ian.walker@wsj.com)

0853 ET - Innovation is essential for sporting-goods companies at a challenging time for the industry, but it isn't enough, Berenberg analysts write in a research note. On Holding, Puma and Adidas recently hosted events at which they presented new products. "We see innovation as a necessary but insufficient condition for growth," the analysts say. Given that technological capabilities among rivals are converging, differentiation depends to a greater extent on the ability to bring innovations to market, they add. Adidas and On have excelled in this regard, while Puma's industry-leading technology in performance products like running shoes remains underappreciated, Berenberg says.