The global credit risk environment has evolved heading into 2H26 but continues to be driven by two main sources of short-term risk, according to Fitch Ratings: rising vulnerability to an AI-related market correction and persistent geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. This is on top of a broader context of slowing US consumer momentum, high inflation risks stemming from the 2Q energy shock and structural public finance pressures limiting the ability to respond to risk events. [....]