{
  "id": 14732156,
  "title": "Market selloff, rising rates test AI data centre deal boom",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/market-selloff-rising-rates-test-ai-data-centre-deal-boom",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-14T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times Business",
    "slug": "gulf-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/735875/business/market-selloff-rising-rates-test-ai-data-centre-deal-boom"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent market selloff is pressuring firms driving the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, as investors demand evidence their infrastructure can withstand higher interest rates and increased computing costs. In the past week alone, listings for several AI-related companies have been either pulled or paused, including a Blackstone-backed REIT, Nvidia-backed and SoftBank-backed firms. Despite this, investment in the sector is not waning, but investors are now more discerning about valuations, debt levels and business models. The focus has shifted from rapid growth to quality, says Harry Evans, a partner at Freshfields law firm. While M&A involving Asian data centres is expected to reach record levels this year, equity capital market fundraising is down 4.6% from the same period last year. Benchmark 10-year US Treasury yields have risen sharply, prompting investors to scrutinize whether projected revenues can support growing debt burdens. Despite these challenges, major transactions are still proceeding, with Singapore-based DayOne planning an IPO and AirTrunk nearing a deal to sell a data centre. However, investors are likely to differentiate between established operators with long-term customer commitments and higher-risk companies.",
  "summary": "A market selloff is forcing companies driving the global AI boom to delay fundraising plans or pay more for capital as investors demand proof they can absorb rising interest rates and computing-power ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}