EM CEEMEA CREDIT: Ivanhoe Mines: Q2 earnings, neutral read
Jul-31 15:30
(IVN; NR/B/B)
Canada-HQ, DRC-focused, multi miner Ivanhoe Mines presented Q2 results overnight. In secondary market, our screen feeds show the recently issued IVN 7.875 Jan30 charting at z+406bp, or 7.64% yield area. Some 75bp tighter vs levels seen at the time of Q1 results’ announcement. The bond launched back in Jan ’25 at 7.875% yield. Our read of the latest earnings is neutral.
Operationally, copper prod’n in Q2 reached 122kt at DRC-based Kamoa-Kakula in spite of seismic activity registered in May impairing Kakula mine from 20 May to 7 June. Quarterly prod’n remains +11% YoY but sequentially lower (1Q25 at 133kt). Accordingly, FY25 guidance has been revised down to 370-420kt from 520-580kt previously. Significantly higher costs in the quarter show C1 at $ 1.89/lb vs $ 1.69/lb in Q1. Guidance on the cost structure has also been revised up with C1 at new guidance at $ 1.90-2.20/lb.An update on the recovery plan is expected in September.
Financially, with USD875mn in Q2 rev’s at Kamoa-Kakula, the Co. reported net profit of USD35mn, sequentially lower vs Q1 at USD122mn. Adj EBITDA sits at USD123mn, down from USD226mn in Q1. Cash and equiv. sit USD672mn, with attrib. group pro-rata CCE at USD774mn on hand. Pro-rata Net Debt is reported at USD1.178bn, TTM adj EBITDA sits at USD645.3mn, which leaves adj net leverage at 1.83x.
For context and as previously noted, Ivanhoe Mines focuses on two producing mines in DRC, Kamoa-kakula (Copper, the Co. has a 39% interest in Kamoa-Kaula with the mine being of exceptional quality) and Kipushi (zinc). In addition, the Co. has construction in progress at the Platreef Mine in South Africa as well as licenses in the Copperbelt Western Foreland exploration project. The new prospective area is located strategically for the proposed development of the new Lobito Corridor. An important step forward for the Co. as it reinforces its presence and concentration with mining focus in and around the Copperbelt area across DRC, Angola and Zambia.
US DATA: Dallas Fed Services Activity Normalizing, Inflation Dynamics Tame
Jul-01 15:20
The Dallas Fed's Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey shows General Business Activity index rose to its best level in 5 months in June, -4.4 from -10.1 prior. That's still contractionary, but the 6-month ahead reading rose to 1.5 from -0.3, marking the first positive reading since February.
The current reading is consistent with levels that prevailed through much of 2023-24, before volatility associated with the November 2024 elections through the tariff uncertainty that picked up strongly earlier in 2025. That said, the anecdotes to the report were almost universally negative, with several respondents citing elevated policy uncertainty and soft demand.
Inflation didn't seem particularly pronounced. Prices paid ticked up to 21.3 from 20.5, though that's well below the average of 29 in the first 4 months of the year. Prices received also edged higher to 6.8 from 5.2 but still below the Jan-Apr average of 9.
Highlights from the report: "Labor market measures indicated employment and hours worked were largely unchanged again in June. ... Perceptions of broader business conditions continued to worsen in June, though the indexes were less negative than the prior month.... The wages and benefits index remained largely unchanged"
The retail sales index, a sub-category of the report, remained weak with the sales index at –29.5 vs –30.5 prior.
STIR: Lagarde Offers Little New At Sintra, SONIA/Euribor H6 Spread Near YTD Lows
Jul-01 15:18
From a cross-market perspective, we note that the SONIA//Euribor H6 spread has consolidated below the March 11 closing low of 172.5bps over the past few sessions, currently trading at 169bps after closing above 200bps on May 30. The combination of a more cautious ECB stance and dovish BOE repricing drove movements in the spread through June.
Looking ahead, markets probably need to see greater deterioration in the UK labour market/a swifter than expected moderation in inflation to be comfortable with discounting a meaningful deviation from the once per quarter cutting cycle that has become familiar in recent months.
Meanwhile, the bar to significant near-term ECB repricing will likely hinge on any unexpected developments in the trade negotiations. The FT reported earlier today that "European capitals have hardened their position in trade talks with Donald Trump, insisting the US drops its tariffs on the EU immediately as part of any framework deal before the looming deadline on July 9". Such a stance could risk an inflammatory reaction from the President.
President Lagarde offered little of note at today’s Sintra panel, re-iterating the ECB’s data-dependent approach and not elaborating on any questions pertaining to the exchange rate (now in more focus after VP de Guindos’ comments earlier this morning). As such, Euribor futures followed Treasuries lower through the panel, in response to some dovish leaning (or at least, non-committal) comments from Fed Chair Powell – see more above. Futures are flat to +2.5 ticks through the blues, while trendline resistance in the U5/U6 spread remains unchallenged.
Tomorrow's regional calendar includes unemployment data from Spain, Italy and the Eurozone, though these aren't usually market moving releases.
STIR: BoE Pricing Steady Around 55bp Cuts Through Dec
Jul-01 15:05
GBP STIRs have pulled away from dovish session extremes given the adjustment in Fed pricing after the U.S. data.
SONIA futures flat to +5.5, with the strip bull flattening.
SFIZ5 & Z6 pierced respective May 9 & May 8 high before a retrace. Bulls will now look to target wider May highs in those contracts.
BoE-dated OIS hasn’t been able to push consistently beyond 55bp of cuts through year-end, with markets probably needing to see greater deterioration in the labour market/a swifter than expected moderation in inflation to be comfortable with discounting a meaningful deviation from the once per quarter cutting cycle that has become familiar in recent months.
Comments from BoE dovish dissenter Taylor are due tomorrow.