David Carruthers

Wildfires are growing in intensity and frequency, and in the US are sometimes attributed to outdated electricity infrastructure, presenting a legal hurdle for companies in the sector. Addressing these issues requires investment, and companies with stronger credit ratings are better placed to fund the necessary capital spending. This note looks at the credit profile and recent trends for 371 US electricity companies.

Australia has so far weathered the Covid storm in reasonable shape, and is one of the few Sovereigns rated AAA by the three largest traditional rating agencies. A credit consensus rating of aa+ reflects a slightly more cautious Bank view. This research analyses a number of Australian industries, sectors and companies to demonstrate the Covid effect on national credit quality comparative to global trends.

As vaccine rollout varies globally, it is clear that the economic bounceback from Covid will be led by the largest and most developed economies. Overall vaccination figures show that the global pandemic is far from over; but trends in the credit consensus are already giving some clues to the shape of the expected global economic recovery.

With environmental awareness becoming a more significant influence on the way we consume and invest, how do the largest CO2 emitting organisations stack up from a credit perspective? And does public versus private ownership impact projected emissions and credit risk?

Lumber prices have tripled since June 2020 as sawmills lay idle during pandemic lockdowns and supply constraints have collided with a spike in homebuilding demand. Will this boost allow forestry and paper companies to thrive post-COVID?

The post-Covid economy will be increasingly dependent on telecoms to keep its supply chains running. Telecoms firms have been investing heavily in 5G but the rise of satellite internet may provide competition for established providers. This report analyses the credit position and recent trends for some key 5G firms.

The global economy currently faces many supply chain challenges, but the global semiconductor shortage is one of the most pressing. The credit impact is obviously negative for many firms, but there may also be some winners. This report compare the credit status and recent trends for some of the largest producers and consumers of semiconductors globally.