Bond yields at 2007 highs make AI debt pricier

The US 10-year Treasury yield climbed this week to its highest level since 2007, driven by a global bond selloff fed by booming capital spending and energy-driven inflation. For companies that grow on borrowed money, that means higher financing costs.

JPMorgan estimates that $4.1 trillion of AI-related debt will be issued through 2030 as the data center race continues, and issuance has already passed $300 billion this year. CoreWeave notes that every 1 percentage point rise in rates could add about $30 million to its interest expense on floating-rate debt. SoftBank sold $11.1 billion of high-yield bonds this week, with the 7-year tranche priced at up to 9.75%.

Oracle shares fell after a report that it sent a force majeure notice tied to its New Mexico data center project. Still, credit rating agency KBRA says it does not see a major hit to borrower demand and expects heavy issuance to continue.