Media are cordially invited to attend the breakfast seminar:  "Global Economic, Credit and Energy Trends" on Saturday, October 11, organized by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services and Platts. Held in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, the seminar will review the global economy, and will include discussions on the outlooks for sovereigns globally, global energy trends, and how regulatory changes may affect banks' business models.

Please confirm your attendance with John Piecuch, (212) 438-1579, john.piecuch@standardandpoors.com or Kathleen Tanzy, (917) 331-4607, kathleen.tanzy@platts.com to receive an entry pass.

PROGRAM

Registration & Breakfast (7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.)

Emerging From The Crisis Aftermath: Mixed Prospects For Economic Growth And Credit Risk (8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)
What is the outlook for the global economy and where do the major risks lie? Is secular stagnation setting in and if so, where? How do the unconventional monetary policies of the major central banks compare, and how are these policies likely to evolve in the coming year? Is crisis in the eurozone at risk of flaring up again? What will a eurozone banking union mean, and what comes after it? These are some of the questions our panel of senior economists, and sovereign and financial analysts will consider.

Panel Speakers:
Paul Sheard, Chief Global Economist and Head of Global Economics and Research
John Chambers, Chairman of the Sovereign Rating Committee
Moritz Kraemer, Chief Rating Officer, Sovereign Ratings
Bernard de Longevialle, Lead Analytical Manager, Financial Institution Ratings

Moderator:
Ian Talley, International Finance & Foreign Exchange Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Coffee & Refreshments (9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.)

Breakout Sessions (9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.)

Session I:
Global Sovereigns: More Downside Ahead?
As geopolitical risk appears to be on the rise in several regions simultaneously and as the prospect of the gradual withdrawal of abundant global liquidity draws nearer, negative sovereign rating outlooks continue to significantly outnumber positive ones. This indicates that Standard & Poor's Ratings Services' sovereign ratings could see a continuation of the downgrade bias of recent years. In this panel, leading S&P Ratings sovereign analysts will discuss with the audience which regions and sovereigns are likely to be at risk and where to find potentially improving sovereign credit stories.

Panel Speakers:
John Chambers, Chairman of the Sovereign Rating Committee
Moritz Kraemer, Chief Rating Officer, Sovereign Ratings
Joydeep Mukherji, Analytical Manager, Latin America Sovereign Ratings
KimEng Tan, Analytical Manager, Asia-Pacific Sovereign Ratings

Moderator:
Curt Moulton, Global Head of Sovereign & International Public Finance Ratings

Session II:
Asia's Growing Energy Appetite, The U.S. Energy Boom, And Global Imbalances
In contrast to the "Asian Model" of ongoing trade and current account surpluses, the region is running ever-larger energy trade deficits. Not surprisingly, this is being driven by China. With Asia seeking new energy suppliers, the question becomes: who will fill this role? An obvious candidate is the U.S., where the shale-led energy export story is gaining momentum, leaving many traditional energy exporters looking for new markets to fill. Beyond the energy sector, these developments also hold the promise of reducing global imbalances.

Panel Speakers:
Paul Gruenwald, Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific
Beth Ann Bovino, Chief Economist for the U.S.
John Kingston, Global  Director of News, Platts
Jack Weixel, Director, Energy Analysis, Bentek Energy an analytics and forecasting unit of Platts

Moderator:
Bill Loveless, Host, "Platts Energy Week" TV

Session III:
Changes In Banks' Business Models, Macro-Impacts On Growth And Financial Stability
Regulatory reform has been reshaping banks' business models with a goal to enhance banks' financial strengths and improve resolvability, at the same time that banks have been operating in a world of near-zero policy rates and QE. We will explore the intended and unintended macro consequences of regulatory reforms and changes in banks' business models, as well as the impacts of low rates on banks' revenues/risk taking and what may lie ahead as monetary policy settings are normalized.

Panel Speakers:
Jean-Michel Six, Chief Economist for EMEA
Bernard De Longevialle, Lead Analytical Manager, Financial Services Ratings
Rodrigo Quintanilla, Managing Director, Financial Institution Ratings
Matthew Albrecht, Senior Director, Financial Institution Ratings

Moderator:
Courtney Geduldig, Managing Director, Global Government and Public Policy, McGraw Hill Financial 

About Standard & Poor's Ratings Services

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, part of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), is the world's leading provider of independent credit risk research and benchmarks. We publish more than a million credit ratings on debt issued by sovereign, municipal, corporate and financial sector entities. With over 1,400 credit analysts in 25 countries, and more than 150 years' experience of assessing credit risk, we offer a unique combination of global coverage and local insight. Our research and opinions about relative credit risk provide market participants with information and independent benchmarks that help to support the growth of transparent, liquid debt markets worldwide.

About Platts

Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at www.platts.com.

Contacts:
Standard & Poor's: John Piecuch, (212) 438-1579, john.piecuch@standardandpoors.com
Platts: Kathleen Tanzy, (917) 331-4607, kathleen.tanzy@platts.com

/PRNewswire -- Oct. 8, 2014/

SOURCE Standard & Poor's