S&P Global Inc. - SPGI STOCK NEWS

S&P Global Mobility forecasts December 2024 U.S. auto sales to reach 1.45 million units, maintaining a 16.5 million SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate). The fourth quarter's selling rate average of 16.4 million units marks the highest quarterly average since Q2 2021. For 2025, sales volumes are projected to reach 16.18 million units, a modest 1.2% increase from 2024's estimated 16.0 million units.

The report highlights ongoing challenges including high vehicle pricing, though expected to decline, and sticky inflation despite anticipated lower interest rates. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) share has consistently exceeded 8% since June, with December projections exceeding 9.0%, potentially driven by anticipated withdrawal of Federal EV incentives in 2025.

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) has maintained its position on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the 15th consecutive year and the DJSI North America Index for the seventh consecutive year. The company achieved an impressive score of 83 out of 100 in the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, leading the building products industry.

The company's sustainability achievements include ranking in the top 10 of 3BL's 100 Best Corporate Citizens list for the seventh consecutive year, and placing 41st overall and 10th in social responsibility on the Wall Street Journal's Top 250 Best-Managed Companies list. Chief Sustainability Officer David Rabuano emphasized the company's commitment to building a sustainable future through material innovation.

S&P Global's new study projects significant economic benefits from growing U.S. LNG exports through 2040, including support for 500,000 domestic jobs annually and a $1.3 trillion contribution to U.S. GDP. The analysis forecasts U.S. LNG export capacity to double within five years under their Base Case scenario, which accounts for the 2024 pause on LNG export decisions to non-free trade agreement countries.

The study anticipates $2.5 trillion in total U.S. business revenues, $166 billion in federal and state tax revenues, and $500 billion in labor income. According to Daniel Yergin, S&P Global Vice Chairman, U.S. LNG has already demonstrated strategic importance by replacing nearly half of Russia's gas supply to Europe following the Ukraine war, while domestic natural gas prices are expected to remain among the world's lowest.

S&P Global Market Intelligence has released its Top 10 Economic Insights for 2025, highlighting a challenging economic outlook dominated by policy uncertainties. The report, presented by Global Economist Ken Wattret, indicates that renewed inflationary pressures are expected to pause the Fed's easing cycle, leading to less accommodative global financial conditions.

Key insights include: a U.S. soft landing with increased downside risks; slower growth in mainland China due to potential tariffs and property sector challenges; Western European economies facing technical recession risks; emerging economies confronting less favorable financial conditions; divergent inflation dynamics across regions; and persistent U.S. dollar strength. The report also addresses core inflation trends, commodity price forecasts, and concerns about fiscal deficits and debt sustainability.

Global supply chain capacity tightened in November as the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index rose to -0.20 from -0.39. Asian manufacturers, particularly in China, reported increased procurement activity at the fastest rate in three-and-a-half years, driven by domestic stimulus and export growth. North American manufacturers increased safety stockpiling in anticipation of potential tariffs under the incoming US administration.

While Asia and North America showed increased activity, Europe's industrial sector continued to decline, especially in Germany. The data revealed robust global supply levels, normal labor capacity, and stable transportation costs. Regional indices showed varying trends: North America rose to -0.36, Europe fell to -0.72, UK improved to -0.12, and Asia reached a four-month high of 0.15.

TPM25, S&P Global's premier container shipping and supply chain conference, will celebrate its 25th anniversary from March 2-5, 2025, in Long Beach, California. Under the theme 'Finding Reliability in an Unreliable World', the event will address challenges in container shipping and supply chains amid potential US trade policy changes.

The conference will feature over 65 sessions, including a keynote address by John Bolton, covering topics such as container shipping outlook, port labor issues, decarbonization, and Asia-Europe shipping. The event will maintain its specialized tracks: TPM Academy for educational workshops, TPM Cold Chain for temperature-controlled logistics, and TPM Tech focusing on AI in containerized supply chains.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced the 2024 review results for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). The DJSI, launched in 1999, are float-adjusted market capitalization weighted indices measuring company performance based on ESG criteria.

Key changes effective December 23, 2024, include the addition of Airbus SE, Schlumberger , and BAE Systems Plc to the DJSI World, while Alphabet Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc, and ASML Holding NV will be removed.

Additionally, the DJSI family will be renamed to Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices effective February 10, 2025. The S&P Global CSA Scores will continue to be important in selecting constituents under the new name.

S&P 500 stock buybacks in Q3 2024 decreased 4.0% to $226.6 billion from Q2 2024's $235.9 billion, but increased 22.1% from Q3 2023. The 12-month buyback expenditure through September 2024 rose 16.7% to $918.4 billion.

Information Technology maintained its lead in buybacks despite a 6.4% decrease, while Consumer Discretionary increased spending by 13.5%. The 1% buyback tax reduced Q3 2024 operating earnings by 0.42%.

Apple dominated with $25.4 billion in Q3 buybacks, followed by Alphabet ($15.3B), NVIDIA ($12.7B), Meta Platforms ($12.4B), and JP Morgan ($6.4B). Total shareholder returns (buybacks + dividends) decreased 1.5% to $383.6 billion in Q3 2024.

S&P Global Commodity Insights hosted its 26th annual Platts Global Energy Awards in New York City, recognizing excellence across 19 categories with winners from nearly a dozen countries. Repsol emerged as the evening's triple winner, securing Energy Company of the Year, Energy Transition – Downstream Award, and Strategic Deal of the Year for its $768 million ConnectGen acquisition.

Notable individual achievements included Lorenzo Simonelli of Baker Hughes winning Chief Executive of the Year, Greg Jackson of Octopus Energy Group named Chief Trailblazer of the Year, and Jeffrey W. Martin of Sempra receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. The awards recognized companies and leaders demonstrating excellence in traditional and renewable energy sectors, with winners from Australia, Canada, France, India, Spain, Turkey, UAE, UK, and the US.