Daily Update — October 06, 2025
AI’s Impact on Sustainability; Emerging Market Brief; and Africa’s Battery Metals Build-out
Today Is Monday, October 6, 2025, 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.
Artificial Intelligence
AI adoption is soaring, but few companies are measuring its impact
Companies are increasingly embedding AI into their systems and products, describing the technology as a transformative force for efficiency, innovation and decision-making. The rapid deployment of AI has also revealed environmental and ethical pitfalls that need to be addressed.
The S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment includes questions about companies’ use of AI to evaluate sustainability performance and determine the policies used to govern AI use. Of the companies that responded to these questions, 36% have a dedicated AI policy or an AI policy integrated into other governance policies. Dedicated AI policies most often cover privacy issues and rarely address issues around identification of AI-generated content.
Economy
Emerging Market Brief: Weak Dollar And High Real Yields Spur Local Currency Issuance
Local currency issuance has gained momentum in emerging markets, attracting investors with higher real yields. S&P Global Ratings believes this trend will continue over the coming quarters, as expected rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve will provide room for further monetary easing in emerging markets (EMs) and mitigate external risks, such as a slowdown in global growth and geopolitical headwinds..
While foreign currency issuance prevailed in the first half of 2025, local currency issuance has accelerated, particularly from sovereign issuers in Latin America. EM-17 currencies appreciated by a median value of 4% year to date, with Latin America outperforming at 11%. The EM-17 group comprises Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
Energy & Commodities
China drives Africa’s battery metals buildout
Africa has become the epicenter of an intensifying global competition for critical minerals as countries move to secure supply chains for the materials required to power the energy transition. The continent's strategic importance has surged as it accounts for approximately 30% of the world's mineral resources, many of which are classified as critical for battery manufacturing and clean energy infrastructure.
China has established itself as a dominant force in Africa's mining sector, with a strategic focus on securing essential resources for its manufacturing and energy transition goals. As global demand for critical minerals escalates, China's involvement in Africa's mining industry is reshaping the regional dynamics of resource extraction, economic development and geopolitical influence.
In case you missed it
- The latest US federal government shutdown is likely to have a minor effect on GDP growth. But economic uncertainty is rising as discretionary federal government spending becomes suspended and sentiments dampen.
- China’s state-run automakers are partnering with Huawei to secure a foothold in the country’s highly competitive electric vehicle market.
- Coal miners' costs in Australia remain higher than they were before the Queensland government hiked royalties in 2022, according to an analysis of S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
Upcoming events
- Before the Tape: A Q3 Earnings Preview and Preparation Guide | October 7 (Webinar)
- 2026 and Beyond: Insurance Outlook for Electric and Autonomous Vehicles | October 8 (Webinar)
- CERAWeek 2026 | March 23–27, 2026 (Houston)