Daily Update — January 21, 2026
Energy Hurdles in Africa; Mixed AI Sentiment; and Rethinking Shipping Strategies
Today is Wednesday, January 21, 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.
Energy Transition & Sustainability
Listen: Africa: Infrastructure hurdles limit pace of broadening energy access
Africa is a resource-abundant continent, but there is a wide disparity in the energy profiles between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The former enjoys universal access to electricity, while 50% of the latter’s population lacks access.
In this episode of the “EnergyCents” podcast, S&P Global Energy experts Silvia Macri and Anastasia Pantazopoulou joined hosts Hill Vaden and Sam Humphreys to discuss infrastructure hurdles and other energy poverty challenges facing many of Africa's less developed countries.
Artificial Intelligence
Listen: Next in Tech | Ep. 251: A Wild Earnings Season
The recent earnings season showed significant variability and a few surprises as AI continued to reshape industries.
In this episode of the “Next in Tech” podcast, Melissa Otto, head of S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Visible Alpha research team, spoke with host Eric Hanselman to break down how AI is affecting various sectors, from technology giants to traditional industries. They discussed ongoing efforts to find use cases with decisive revenue returns, data center and energy supply constraints, and where the AI boom is headed.
Global Trade
Listen: The Decisive | Season 5 Ep. 2 - Taking Costs Out, Putting Value In: Shipping Strategies in Focus at TPM26
As the container shipping industry faces mounting pressures from global trade dynamics, companies are rethinking their strategies, from cost containment to risk management.
In this episode of “The Decisive” podcast, host Kristen Hallam spoke with Peter Tirschwell, vice president for maritime and trade at S&P Global Market Intelligence, to discuss the TPM26 conference’s theme: taking costs out, putting value in. They explored the implications of US tariff policies, evolving supply chain strategies, the role of technology in managing costs, best practices for shippers and what to expect from TPM26, scheduled for March 1–4. TPM is an annual conference organized by The Journal of Commerce by S&P Global.
In case you missed it
- Non-US stocks are expected to deliver strong returns again in 2026 following a market rally in 2025, but US equities may regain their lead.
- Dividends are projected to grow 2.9% globally to $2.47 trillion in 2026, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Dividend Forecasting service.
- Singapore's low sulfur fuel oil arbitrage arrivals from the West are expected to increase to about 3 million metric tons in January from about 2.7 million metric tons in December 2025, traders told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.
Upcoming events
- 2026 Outlook On Subnational Governments Outside The U.S. | January 26 (Webinar)
- Ireland - Key Rating Themes To Watch in 2026 | January 28 (Webinar)
- LNG Market, Pricing and Commercial Fundamentals | January 28–29 (Houston)
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