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Daily Update — August 13, 2026

Hormuz Disruption Prompts Policy Shifts; Blending Private, Public Capital; and What US TV Subscribers Want

Today is Thursday, August 13, 2026, and here’s your curated selection of Essential Intelligence on global markets from S&P Global. Subscribe to be notified of each new Daily Update.

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Energy Expansion

More than 100 countries have adopted energy policies to adapt to Hormuz closure: IEA

 

Over 115 countries have enacted new policy measures to manage the energy impacts stemming from the US-Israel war with Iran and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Jérôme Bilodeau, an official from the International Energy Agency.

 

Since the war began, 94 governments have introduced price supports, such as fuel subsidies, while 58 have implemented energy conservation measures, focused primarily on limiting oil use. Additionally, 30 governments have announced structural policies to reduce long-term fuel consumption through energy efficiency and electrification. Bilodeau said that these demand-side measures cannot fully replace the lost energy volume, but can help moderate the impact of disruptions. 

Private Markets

Extending Market Representation: Public-Private Blends in Investment Solutions
 

As companies increasingly delay IPOs, corporate value creation is shifting to private markets. Between 2000 and 2024, the number of publicly listed companies in the US and Europe declined by about 32%. Comparatively, the number of private equity-backed firms surged sevenfold between 2000 and 2020.

 

To better reflect the modern economy, the financial industry is exploring blended strategies that integrate public and private equities. Frameworks that combine broad public indexes with benchmarks such as the S&P US Private Stock Top 10 Index can offer a more comprehensive view of growth. While traditional funds face strict liquidity limits for private assets, improving secondary market conditions and newer semiliquid fund structures are making these blended approaches increasingly viable.

Technology & Media

Listen: What's Driving TV Subscriber Satisfaction in 2026?

 

In this episode of the "MediaTalk" podcast, S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analyst Brian Bacon joined host Mike Reynolds to discuss first-quarter 2026 MediaCensus survey data on US TV subscriber satisfaction. The share of "very satisfied" TV subscribers rose to 39% in 2026 from 34% in 2025, potentially boosted by the Winter Olympics, according to the survey. Notably, virtual multichannel services outpaced traditional providers in customer satisfaction. The data also showed that integrating subscription video-on-demand services into traditional cable packages significantly boosts satisfaction.

 

Bacon and Reynolds also explored the rise of "virtual basic cable" — internet-only TV packages offered exclusively to an operator’s broadband customers — noting that these lower-cost tiers serve as a strategic retention tool to maintain high-margin internet subscribers.

In case you missed it

  • The US plans to invest over $2 billion in mining and metals projects to boost domestic production capacity and reduce reliance on imported critical minerals.
  • S&P Global's global Purchasing Managers’ Index data shows that inflation remained elevated in July as strong demand for services offset cooling goods and energy prices.
  • Surging data center and AI demand is spurring new natural gas power development across the US Southeast.

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