A wave of landmark elections across Japan, Thailand, and Bangladesh is reshaping the political map of Asia—and creating new signals for investors, multinationals, and supply-chain decision-makers. In this episode, we break down what the results mean for regional security, economic strategy, and the business operating environment over the next 12–24 months.

We start in Japan, where Prime Minister Sanai Takaichi's LDP delivers a sweeping lower-house win, strengthening policy stability while enabling more ambitious moves on defense spending, industrial policy, and potential constitutional change. The discussion explores how Tokyo's deeper alignment with the US on security could influence corporate risk planning, advanced manufacturing, and strategic technology investment.

Next, we turn to Thailand, where Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party emerges as the dominant force and is positioned to lead a coalition government. We examine the implications for border tensions with Cambodia, the role of the military and establishment politics, and how continued cost-of-living measures, debt relief, regulatory simplification, and public-private partnerships could reshape opportunities for SMEs, retailers, and large infrastructure players.

Finally, in Bangladesh, a decisive BNP win and a reform agenda centered on deregulation and digitization raise questions about implementation capacity, investor confidence, and the direction of foreign policy. We close with what this could mean for key sectors including garments, energy, and pharmaceuticals, and how political dynamics with the opposition may affect the pace of reform.

Listen now to learn how these geopolitical developments could impact your business.

More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:

• Geopolitical Risk Brief: February 2026
• Age of Agility: Key Themes Shaping APAC in 2026
• Click here to subscribe to our Geopolitical and Economic Risk Monthly newsletter.

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• Japan's political outlook
• 2026: The age of agility

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guests: Jeffery McElroy, Aiman Othman, Smrithi Premjeet
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of The Decisive, Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, assesses the global macroeconomic landscape, highlighting that the world economy is proving more resilient than markets might suggest, even as volatility remains elevated.

Ken unpacks how geopolitical flashpoints and trade-policy uncertainty are rippling through financial and commodity markets—often with sharper price action than real-economy fallout so far—while underscoring that further disruptions, higher tariffs, or supply shocks could still dent global growth.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index data, which indicate continued expansion across manufacturing and services—supporting a constructive baseline for 2026—while highlighting key downside risks: asset-price corrections, rising sovereign yields, escalating trade frictions, and softening labor-market conditions that could undermine growth if volatility intensifies.

Listen now for a thought-provoking discussion of the factors at play in the global economic outlook.

More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:

• Top 10 Economic Insights 2026
• Global Economic Outlook: February 2026
• The Age of Agility: Key Themes for 2026

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• Global Executive Summary: Choppy markets, resilient economies
• Policy rate prospects
• Inflation indications

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Ken Wattret
• Produced By: Debbie Taylor, Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode, taken from a Feb. 4 client webinar, host Kristen Hallam, along with experts John Raines, Jack Kennedy, and Jeffery McElroy, dive into the complexities of geopolitical volatility around the globe.

As tensions rise over Iran's nuclear ambitions and the U.S. military strategy, the discussion explores potential pathways to escalation and their global implications. Discover how military and diplomatic maneuvers could impact critical sectors like energy and infrastructure, with disruptions potentially affecting global oil prices and economic stability.

The conversation also extends to Latin America and the strategic interests of mainland China, examining how shifts in U.S. policy influence regional security and economic partnerships.

Join us for an insightful analysis of the geopolitical landscape, offering valuable perspectives for businesses and policymakers navigating these turbulent times. Subscribe now to stay informed with The Decisive—your source for empowering decision-making in an uncertain world.

More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:

• Age of Agility: Key Themes Shaping the MENA Region in 2026
• Age of Agility: Key Themes Shaping Latin America in 2026
• Age of Agility: Key Themes Shaping APAC in 2026
• Click here to subscribe to our Geopolitical and Economic Risk Monthly newsletter.

For S&P Global subscribers (login required):

• MENA regional conflict
• Japan's political outlook
• 2026: The age of agility

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guests: John Raines, Jack A. Kennedy, Jeffery McElroy
• Produced By: Debbie Taylor, Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

Agentic AI can move supply chains from reactive "triage" to smarter, faster decision-making. In this episode of The Decisive, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Brendan Neary joins host Kristen Hallam to unpack today's biggest supply-chain pain points—volatility, complexity, and constant disruption driven by forces like weather, policy shifts, and geopolitics—and why risk mitigation has become a daily mandate for procurement and supply-chain leaders.

You'll hear how agentic AI—autonomous systems powered by large language models—can help teams connect disparate data, reason through scenarios, and take action with minimal supervision, turning raw information into practical workflows and recommendations.

The conversation dives into data-driven procurement and sourcing, including how organizations can use intelligence to benchmark negotiations, identify alternate suppliers, and assess country and credit risk—while addressing the real-world deployment hurdles of data quality, interoperability, and making insights truly consumable for decision-makers.

Listen now to gain insight into how agentic AI can transform supply chain management.

Click here to register for TPM26, the world's largest container shipping conference.

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• Supply chain certainty, rather than price, will shape shipping in 2026
• Age of Agility: Corporate Supply Chain Strategy Themes in 2026
• Top 10 Economic Insights 2026

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• Egypt opens new semiautomated Red Sea terminal as Suez traffic grows
• Global trade outlook and supply chains
• 2026: The age of agility

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Brendan Neary
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

Stablecoins are designed to keep a steady value—by pegging to a reserve asset like the US dollar—while delivering the speed and lower cost of blockchain-based payments. In this episode of The Decisive, S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Robert Matthee unpacks how stablecoins work, why their market has surged to an estimated $300 billion, and what's driving forecasts that the space could expand dramatically in the coming years.

Robert and host Kristen hallam dig into what's powering adoption: demand for cheaper cross-border transfers, growing use by major issuers, and the impact of clearer regulation—including the US GENIUS Act—on mainstream acceptance.

We also look at stablecoins through the lens of emerging markets, especially sub-Saharan Africa, where FX shortages, inflation, and friction-filled payment rails have made "digital hard currency" an appealing alternative for households and businesses. The episode also explores the tradeoffs—how widespread stablecoin use could accelerate currency substitution, weaken domestic monetary policy, and pressure local banks by pulling deposits out of the traditional system.

Finally, we close with what could come next—from continued growth in dollar-backed coins to new experiments, including stablecoins backed by assets like gold.

Listen now to gain insights on the future of stablecoin adoption.

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• Stablecoins Explained: A Comprehensive FAQ Guide to Digital Currency Stability
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• Sub-Saharan Africa: FX shortages likely to accelerate US stablecoin adoption
• Banking risk 2025 highlights and 2026 outlook
• Fiscal fragilities: Dealing with high debt

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Robert Matthee
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

The US Federal Reserve is always in the spotlight, and that spotlight is brighter than ever in 2026.

In this episode of The Decisive, economist Lawrence Nelson, our resident Fed expert at S&P Global Market Intelligence, breaks down why the central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at its January meeting, and what "sticky" inflation could mean for the first part of the year.

We also examine the leadership uncertainty ahead of Jerome Powell's term as Fed chair ending in May, including how a US Justice Department investigation could complicate the transition—without necessarily changing the Fed's data-driven approach to monetary policy.

The episode offers a quick refresher on the Fed's dual mandate, the key indicators policymakers watch, and how disruptions—such as last year's government shutdown—can impact the data flow the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) relies on when setting rates.

Listen now to learn more about what our Fed expert is watching in January and beyond, and gain insights to guide your business decisions in the year ahead.

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• Top 10 Economic Insights 2026
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• Weekly Economic Commentary
• Inflation indications
• Bubble trouble: Lessons from the dotcom days

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Lawrence Nelson
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

As global trade faces unprecedented disruption, shippers must rethink everything from cost containment to risk management. In this episode of the Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam sits down with Peter Tirschwell, Vice President for Maritime & Trade at S&P Global Market Intelligence and TPM Conference founder, to break down the theme of TPM26: "Taking Costs Out, Putting Value In."

Together, they explore the far-reaching impacts of U.S. tariff policies, evolving supply chain strategies, and the role of technology in managing costs. Peter shares vital insights on balancing freight rates with service reliability, current best practices for shippers, and what to expect from this year's TPM Conference—including highlights on macroeconomic trends, industry consolidation, and the current dynamics of global shipping.

Whether you're a shipper, carrier, supply chain manager, or simply curious about the forces shaping global trade, this episode will help you navigate industry trends and challenges.

Tune in for an inside look at the biggest topics captivating the container shipping industry in 2026.

Click here to register for TPM26, the world's largest container shipping conference.

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• Asia-Europe ocean carriers add capacity as trade enters peak shipping period
• Geopolitical Risk Brief: December 2025
• Top 10 Economic Insights 2026

For S&P Global subscribers (login required):

• Egypt opens new semiautomated Red Sea terminal as Suez traffic grows
• Global trade outlook and supply chains
• 2026: The age of agility

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Peter Tirschwell
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun

In this episode of The Decisive Podcast, host Kristen Hallam engages in an insightful discussion with Ken Wattret, Vice President of Global Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about the critical yet often overlooked topic of public debt.

Kristen and Ken explore the significant rise in public sector debt-to-GDP ratios since the mid-2000s, driven by adverse economic shocks, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ken explains the persistent challenges of high government budget deficits, the political reluctance to implement fiscal changes, and the implications of rising sovereign yields on economic growth. Ken discusses how these fiscal fragilities impact businesses and consumers, the potential for crowding out private sector investment, and the risks of triggering another economic shock.

Listen now for a thought-provoking conversation that highlights the complexities of fiscal policy in today's economic landscape.

More S&P Global Market Intelligence Content:

• The Age of Agility: Key Themes for 2026
• Top 10 Economic Insights 2026
• Fiscal fragilities: Dealing with high debt

For S&P Global subscribers (login required):

• Fiscal fragilities: Dealing with high debt
• 2026: The age of agility
• Inflation indications

Credits:

• Host: Kristen Hallam
• Guest: Ken Wattret
• Produced By: Kristen Hallam
• Edited By: Marz Marcello
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun