S&P Global Inc. - SPGI STOCK NEWS

On March 23, 2021, Fujairah, UAE, announced a partnership with S&P Global Platts to publish monthly bunker fuel and lubricant sales data. This collaboration aims to improve market transparency as Fujairah positions itself as a leading hub in global oil and bunker trading. Starting April 20, 2021, data will be available for sales volumes segmented across categories including low sulfur fuel oil and marine gasoil, with insights on inventory. This initiative enhances the information flow essential for market participants amid evolving economic activities post-COVID-19.

S&P Global Ratings announced on March 22, 2021, a positive outlook for the global economic recovery, driven by favorable fiscal policies and vaccination efforts. The report suggests that rising U.S. Treasury yields indicate confidence in a sustained recovery. While concerns over inflation persist, S&P believes fears are exaggerated and forecasts orderly reflation will support sustainable growth. Risks include potential volatility in credit markets, particularly affecting lower-rated corporate entities and emerging markets.

S&P Global Ratings published a report on March 22, 2021, outlining six significant corporate governance trends for 2021, emphasizing resilience in crisis management amid the pandemic. Key trends include enhanced diversity on boards, increased ESG competency, focus on board effectiveness, integration of ESG metrics with executive pay, growing shareholder activism on environmental issues, and demands for tax transparency. The report highlights the need for companies to prepare for systemic challenges like climate change and improve their governance frameworks.

S&P Dow Jones Indices announced updates to the market capitalization eligibility criteria for the S&P Composite 1500 Indices, effective March 17, 2021. The new thresholds are:

• US$ 11.8 billion or more for the S&P 500
• US$ 3.3 billion to US$ 11.8 billion for the S&P MidCap 400
• US$ 750 million to US$ 3.3 billion for the S&P SmallCap 600

S&P Global Ratings reports shared activism targeting rated entities surged to an all-time high in 2020, increasing by 42% to 313 companies compared to 220 in 2019. The report notes that 26 rating actions were directly linked to activist campaigns, with over 80% being negative. ESG-focused campaigns made up 75% of total campaigns but had limited short-term impact on ratings. Notably, Europe saw a rise in downgrades due to activist campaigns, mirroring trends in the U.S. S&P expects activism to continue to rise in 2021, driven by M&A and ESG factors.

S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian reported an increase in consumer credit defaults through February 2021. The composite default rate rose to 0.53%, up 5 basis points, while the bank card default rate increased by 21 basis points to 2.93%. Conversely, the auto loan default rate decreased to 0.51%. Notably, major metropolitan areas showed higher default rates, with New York at 0.83% and Miami at 1.16%. This data indicates ongoing concerns in consumer credit health.

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) CEO Douglas L. Peterson will present at the Jefferies Virtual Business Services Summit on March 25, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT. The event will feature a 'fireside chat' format and will be accessible via a live and replay webcast on the Company's Investor Relations website. Following the presentation, a slide deck will be available for download. S&P Global is a leading provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, and analytics, serving the global capital and commodity markets for over 160 years.