Morgan Stanley sees global AI-related bond issuance nearing $570 billion in 2026

The bank said issuance had already reached about $236 billion by the end of May, roughly four times the year-earlier level, as hyperscalers' capital spending may top $1 trillion in 2027.

Summary

Morgan Stanley forecasts global AI-related bond issuance could approach $570 billion in 2026, more than double last year, as funding needs rise alongside heavy investment in data centers and computing infrastructure. The bank said about $236 billion of AI-related debt had been issued globally by the end of May, roughly four times the year-earlier level, and expects issuance to accelerate in the second half. It also said hyperscalers (large cloud-computing companies) may see capital spending exceed $1 trillion in 2027, underscoring the scale of financing tied to the AI buildout.

Terms & Concepts
  • AI-related bond issuance: Debt sold to help finance artificial intelligence-linked spending.
  • hyperscalers: Large cloud-computing companies operating massive data center networks.
  • capital spending: Company outlays on long-term assets such as infrastructure and equipment.