Positioning for the next Upturn as Energy and Materials Transition Accelerate

8:15 AM: Welcome to WPC 2024 - Mark Eramo, Global Head of Fuels, Chemicals & Resource Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights    
8:20 AM:  President's Welcome - Saugata Saha, President, S&P Global Commodity Insights  

Setting the Stage - S&P Global Outlooks - Moderator: Lyn Tattum, Vice President, Head of Events, S&P Global Commodity Insights    
8:25 AM:  It’s All About The Landing - Paul Gruenwald, Global Chief Economist, S&P Global Ratings

Following a synchronized rise in policy rates, growth is now unsynchronized across major economies. The U.S. is outperforming whereas in Europe activity is flat. The common macro thread comprises strong labor markets and spending on services, fiscal tailwinds, and lingering core price pressures. Inflation has likely peaked as have policy rates, but central banks are on guard against declaring victory too early. Our higher-for-longer view applies both to policy rates and market interest rates, real and nominal. Caution among developed market central banks is constraining potential rate cuts in emerging markets. The next macro challenge is to "stick the landing." The risks to our soft-landing baseline look balanced. Strong labor markets and fiscal tailwinds are driving the upside, whereas uncertainties about the lagged transmission of cumulative rate hikes since early 2022 are driving the downside.

8:45AM: From Ideology to Pragmatism: Multidimensional Transition - Atul Arya, Senior Vice President, Energy, S&P Global Commodity Insights 

9:00 AM: Geopolitical Turmoil and Energy Challenges  - Carlos Pascual, Senior Vice President, Head of Geopolitics & International Affairs, S&P Global Commodity Insights
9:20 AM: Continental Divide How North America and the Middle East create oil price cycles—and why this matters - Jim Burkhard, Vice President & Head of Research for Oil Markets, Energy and Mobility, S&P Global Commodity Insights
9:40 AM: Q&A -  Moderator: Lyn Tattum, Vice President, Head of Events, S&P Global Commodity Insights