Feedstocks for Thought European Chemicals | --- | --- | |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | European Credit – Basic Resources and General Industrials | | | Ed McGuinness, CFA AC | | | (44-20) 7134-0456 ed.mcguinness ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains a Neutral investment rating across all bonds for Gerdau, indicating a cautious outlook despite strong credit metrics and liquidity [4][8][9]. Core Insights - Gerdau's results were better than expected in a challenging steel environment, with EBITDA of US$503 million falling 11% sequentially and 34% year-over-year [5][6]. - The company generated US$40 million in cash during the quarter, an improvement from a US$51 million cash burn in the previous quarter, driven by smaller working capital consumption [6][35]. - Management expects a positive outlook for most business units in the second half of 2024, with anticipated demand recovery in Brazil and North America [6][8]. Summary by Relevant Sections Financial Performance - Gerdau's EBITDA margin deteriorated from 17.4% in Q1 2024 to 15.8% in Q2 2024, reflecting pressures from pricing and costs [5][6]. - Total shipments in Brazil fell by 9% sequentially and 12% year-over-year, impacted by lower export volumes and production shutdowns [3][15]. - Average realized prices in Brazil were US$994 per ton, down 1% sequentially and 9% year-over-year, with domestic prices showing a 5% decline sequentially [15][17]. Regional Performance - North America saw a 3% sequential increase in shipments, driven by stable backlogs in key industries, but pricing was weaker, with average realized prices at US$1,180 per ton, down 6% sequentially [21][23]. - South America experienced a 10% sequential increase in shipments, but overall demand remains weak, leading to a 25% decline in EBITDA sequentially [28][29]. - The specialty steel segment showed a sequential improvement in shipments, with EBITDA rising 17% sequentially despite lower realized prices [32][33]. Management Outlook - Management is optimistic about demand recovery in Brazil's auto and construction sectors, expecting lower imports in the second half of 2024 due to government tariff adjustments [6][8]. - Cost reduction initiatives are underway, aiming for R$1 billion in savings in Brazil and R$1.5 billion company-wide [3][6]. - A new share buyback program has been approved, indicating management's confidence in future cash generation [35].

02 August 2024 J P M O R G A N Global Rates Strategy Fabio Bassi AC (44-20) 7134-1989 fabio.bassi@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities plc Elisabetta Ferrara (44-20) 7134-2765 elisabetta.ferrara@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities plc Overview When direction is clear, it is all about speed and destination Increasing confidence on the broad disinflation dynamic across DM has driven a repricing of monetary policy expectations, with a sharp acceleration recently on combination of central bank rhetoric and macro ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains a bullish duration bias over the medium term, indicating a favorable outlook for long-duration investments [5][16][31]. Core Insights - The global easing cycle is underway, with most central banks expected to cut rates, particularly the ECB, which is projected to implement further cuts in September [9][10][14]. - The €STR curve is pricing in cumulative cuts of 28bp and 70bp by September and December meetings, respectively, and around 160bp by year-end 2025, reflecting a dovish outlook [10][11][14]. - The report highlights a significant decline in yields, particularly in the Euro area, with 1Yx1Y €STR yields dropping approximately 65bp in July [5][9]. - Tactical profits have been taken in various trades, including the Dec24/Dec25 Euribor curve flattener and 1Yx5Y A/A-50 receiver spread, indicating active management of positions in response to market conditions [5][17][19]. Summary by Sections Global Rates Strategy - Yields have declined sharply due to a dovish shift in central bank policies, driven by a deteriorating macro backdrop and weakening labor markets [5][9]. - The report notes a bull-steepening dynamic in the €STR forward yields, with a significant drop in yields observed [6][9]. - The Fed is expected to initiate an easing cycle in September, with a cumulative cut forecast of 125bp this year [9][14]. Tactical Recommendations - The report recommends holding a long-end steepening view and entering into various swap curve steepeners, reflecting a strategy to capitalize on expected yield movements [5][36][37]. - Tactical profits have been taken in several positions, including the Dec25/Dec26 conditional bull steepener, indicating a proactive approach to managing risk and returns [21][23]. - The report suggests hedging against potential hard landing scenarios through conditional bull-belly cheapeners [31][35]. Market Dynamics - The report discusses the changing dynamics of swap flies, noting a decline in their positive directionality to yields, which is typical during easing cycles [23][25]. - Swap spreads have widened across the curve, with a modest outperformance in the belly, reflecting market reactions to macroeconomic conditions [38][40]. - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring macroeconomic indicators, as they will influence the volatility and direction of swap spreads [41][42].

Global Emerging Markets Research 01 August 2024 J P M O R G A N For Dollar's Sake: Emerging Markets Defy De-dollarization • US dollar bank deposits in Emerging Markets are an overlooked but critical barometer of the US dollar's role as a global reserve currency. • This is because dollar-denominated deposits represent the genuine confidence of the private sector in the dollar as a store of value, unlike official holdings, which may be swayed by geopolitical and other non-economic considerations. • Dollar-den ...

Global Quantitative and Derivatives Strategy 1 August 2024 Relative Value Single Stock Volatility Ranking Results for 3M tenor options Global Quantitative and Derivatives Strategy Esmail AfsahAC (44-20) 7742-9231 esmail.afsah@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities plc Davide Silvestrini (44-20) 7134-4082 davide.silvestrini@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities plc See the end pages of this presentation for analyst certification and important disclosures. J.P. Morgan does and seeks to do business with companies c ...

J P M O R G A N Global Quantitative & Derivatives Strategy 02 August 2024 European Q-Score with a Derivatives Overlay Options strategies combining Quant + Derivatives models • Buy Calls – buy option contracts for the right to buy UBS, Intesa Sanpaolo, Deutsche Bank and Rio Tinto are the stocks that screen most attractive in the JPM European Q-Score stock-picking model; they have a good combined rank. Additionally, these stocks also rank as relatively cheap based on their option richness. The combination of ...

Investment Rating - The report indicates that risk premia in Israel's local markets are currently viewed as sufficient, with a strong likelihood of intervention from the Bank of Israel if geopolitical tensions escalate further [1][14]. Core Insights - Risk premia in Israel's local markets are on par with or exceed levels observed in October 2023, reflecting heightened geopolitical risks [1][4]. - The USDILS spot is trading significantly above its fair value, with a deviation of 17%, the highest since October 2023 [4][14]. - The spread of 10-year ILGOVs to 10-year USTs has reached 95 basis points, the widest in 10 years, and 124 basis points above the average spread since 2015 [1][14]. - The Bank of Israel is expected to intervene in the FX market if USDILS approaches 4.00, similar to the $8.2 billion sold in October 2023 [1][14]. - Current yields on 10-year ILGOVs are considered 3-4 standard deviations cheap compared to forward-looking fair value estimates [17][19]. Summary by Sections FX Market Analysis - The USDILS is trading with a significant deviation from fair value, indicating a demand for USD liquidity [4][8]. - FX implied yields have dropped significantly below the Bank of Israel's policy rate, suggesting market stress [8][10]. Bond Market Insights - The 10-year ILGOV yield has increased by 21 basis points to 4.95%, underperforming compared to global trends [14][19]. - The 10-year ILGOV ASW spreads are at 39 basis points, well above the long-run average of 8 basis points since 2012 [14][16]. - Bottom-up models suggest that current bond yields are 94 basis points cheap to end-2024 fair value and 125 basis points cheap to mid-2025 fair value [17][19]. Market Expectations - The market is pricing only a modest 50 basis point cutting cycle for the Bank of Israel, contrasting with expectations for a deeper Fed easing cycle [19][20]. - The persistently rising spread of market-priced BoI-Fed policy rate spreads indicates elevated front-end ILS rates premia [19][20].

Fund Flows Summary - Euro investment grade funds saw an inflow of €1.1bn (0.4% of AUM) for the week ending 31 July [1][6] - Sterling investment grade funds experienced an outflow of £71mm (0.1% of AUM) for the same week [1][10] - European high yield funds registered an inflow of €428mm (0.5% of AUM) [1][15] - European strategic funds (ex Target Date) saw an inflow of €302mm (0.2% of AUM) [20] Euro Investment Grade Funds - Weekly inflow of €1.1bn (0.4% of AUM) includes €49mm (0.1% of AUM) from ETFs and €602mm (0.6% of AUM) from short duration funds [6] - Provisional June flows show an inflow of €3.8bn (1.2% of AUM) [6] - Cumulative flows from Jan 2024 stand at €25bn (8.7% of AUM) [7] Sterling Investment Grade Funds - Weekly outflow of £71mm (0.1% of AUM) includes £41mm (1.4% of AUM) from ETFs and £140mm (1.7% of AUM) from short duration funds [10] - Provisional June flows indicate an outflow of £976mm (1.8% of AUM) [10] - Cumulative flows from Jan 2024 show an outflow of £1.8bn (3.2% of AUM) [11] European High Yield Funds - Weekly inflow of €428mm (0.5% of AUM) includes €57mm (0.5% of AUM) from ETFs and €66mm (0.8% of AUM) from short duration funds [15] - Provisional June flows show an outflow of €47mm (0.1% of AUM) [16] - Cumulative flows from Jan 2024 stand at €6.8bn (8.6% of AUM) [17] European Strategic Funds (ex Target Date) - Weekly inflow of €302mm (0.2% of AUM) includes €34mm (0.1% of AUM) from subordinated credit funds and €36mm (0.3% of AUM) from crossover funds [20] - Provisional June flows indicate an inflow of €856mm (0.6% of AUM) [21] - Cumulative flows from Jan 2024 show an inflow of €10.6bn (7.1% of AUM) [21] European Credit Target Date Funds - Weekly outflow of €27mm (0.1% of AUM) [24] - Provisional June flows show an outflow of €505mm (0.9% of AUM) [25] - Cumulative flows from Jan 2024 stand at an outflow of €2.4bn (3.8% of AUM) [26]

Europe Credit Research 02 August 2024 J P M O R G A N European Credit Weekly Warning lights are flashing • We are revising our FY24 euro investment grade and high yield spread targets upwards to 150bp and 425bp, respectively, implying 25bp and 58bp of widening from yesterday's levels. • In our view, the market is facing a potent cocktail of: i) divergence in spreads from rates markets and equity volatility; ii) weaker economic data; iii) more balanced technicals with risks to demand from lower yields; iv) g ...