Meera Chandan AC (44-20) 7134-2924 meera.chandan@jpmorgan.com J.P. Morgan Securities plc Arindam Sandilya AC (65) 6882-7759 arindam.x.sandilya@jpmorgan.com JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Singapore Branch Our bearish USD view thus far has not been motivated by expectations of any such accords; it is instead explained by underlying fundamentals — both cyclical and possibly structural. The USD weakness year-to-date thus far has been European-led and has not needed any such accords. The moti- vation for USD weaknes ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains a defensive tactical stance with an overweight (OW) on bonds and cash, neutral (N) on credit, and an underweight (UW) on equities and commodities for the next three months [4]. Core Insights - Financial markets are currently navigating between the risks of a US recession and the concept of US exceptionalism, leading to a sell-off in US cyclicals compared to defensives and a widening of credit spreads [2][3]. - Recent equity market rallies have been supported by easing global growth concerns and more dovish monetary policy expectations, with technology stocks, particularly the Nasdaq, leading the rebound [3][10]. - The report highlights a significant outflow of approximately $60 billion from US stocks by foreign investors since March 1, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [3]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - US existing home sales and Euro area composite PMIs have both come in below expectations, while non-farm payrolls (NFPs) are expected to rise by 140,000 in April, above consensus [1]. - The market has begun to price in higher recession risks, leading to a relative underperformance of US equities compared to non-US equities [2]. Asset Allocation Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on domestic defensive sectors in Europe and taking advantage of resets in cross-asset volatility to add selective overlay hedges [4][15]. - The allocation recommendations include an underweight in equities across various indices, with specific forecasts for the S&P 500 and other major indices indicating potential downside in the short term [15]. Performance Metrics - The report provides performance metrics indicating that US equities, particularly the Nasdaq, have outperformed other indices since April 21, while Asian markets, especially China, have lagged [3][10]. - The correlation between US and non-US equities has started to decline, suggesting a potential shift in market dynamics [3][9]. Valuation and Risk Premia - The report includes a cross-asset valuation table showing current valuations and their percentiles relative to the past ten years, indicating that US equities are at a 71% expensiveness percentile [59]. - The current dividend yield for the S&P 500 is 1.5%, which is at the 16th percentile compared to the last ten years, suggesting a relatively low yield environment [62]. Fund Flows and Positioning - The report notes significant fund flows, with a focus on the cumulative flows across various asset classes, indicating a preference for safe assets over risky ones in recent weeks [74][78]. - The positioning data shows net long positions in equities and commodities, reflecting investor sentiment and market expectations [86][88].

Investment Rating - The report indicates a neutral investment stance with a BofA Bull & Bear Indicator reading of 4.8, slightly down from 4.9, suggesting a cautious approach to risk assets [7][48]. Core Insights - The report discusses the transition from "US exceptionalism" to "US repudiation," highlighting a significant shift in foreign ownership of US assets, with foreigners holding 33% of US Treasuries, 27% of US corporate bonds, and 18% of US stocks [1][10]. - The report emphasizes the impact of higher US yields leading to lower stock prices and a weaker US dollar, which is driving global asset liquidation [2][17]. - It suggests that the S&P 500 valuation floor of 20x has now become a ceiling, indicating a bearish outlook for US equities [1][25]. Summary by Sections Treasury Ownership - Foreign ownership of US Treasuries has reached 33%, with the financial sector holding 31% and the government 24% [3]. Market Flows - There was a significant inflow of $48.9 billion into equities, driven by a $70.3 billion inflow to passive funds, while bonds experienced a $20.8 billion outflow [11][26]. - The report notes the largest weekly inflow into Treasuries at $18.8 billion and the largest outflow from high-yield bonds at $15.9 billion [16][27]. Economic Indicators - The report indicates that the US household equity wealth has decreased by $8 trillion year-to-date, following a $9 trillion increase in 2024, reflecting a negative wealth effect [18][22]. - The S&P 500 is projected to be priced-in around 4800, with expectations of a short and shallow recession [22][25]. Investment Strategies - The report recommends being long on 2-year Treasuries and short on the S&P 500 until there is a significant policy response from the Federal Reserve or a resolution in the US-China trade tensions [2][17]. - It advises investors to focus on high-quality corporate bonds yielding 5-6%, equities with strong dividend yields, and to consider emerging markets and commodities as potential investments [25][26].