International News 05 February 2026
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Global Bond Issuance Breaks US$1 Trillion at Record Speed in Early 2026
Global bond issuance through public syndications has surpassed US$1 trillion as of February 2, 2026, marking the fastest pace on record as issuers rush to lock in relatively low borrowing costs amid strong investor demand. According to Bloomberg data, the milestone was reached after Oracle’s US$25 billion bond sale, the largest corporate bond issuance this year. For comparison, the same threshold was only reached on February 7 in 2024 and February 11 in 2025, highlighting the unprecedented acceleration in issuance activity. Government bonds account for over 40% of total issuance so far this year, while financial institutions contribute nearly 35%, led by a record US$16 billion deal from Goldman Sachs. Issuance from non-financial corporates—particularly the technology sector—is expected to rise as earnings blackout periods end, with companies such as AT&T and IBM already tapping the market aggressively. Analysts at JPMorgan note that February and March are historically the busiest months for tech, media, and telecom bond issuance. However, concerns over market complacency are growing, as heavy demand has pushed credit spreads to multi-decade lows, prompting some asset managers to scale back corporate bond exposure. Early 2026 has already seen multiple records, including the busiest January ever for euro-denominated bonds and US investment-grade issuance, alongside exceptionally strong activity in leveraged loan markets in both Europe and the United States.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/penerbitan-obligasi-global-menembus-rekor
KKR-Led Consortium Nears US$10 Billion Deal for ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
A consortium led by KKR is reportedly close to reaching an agreement to acquire Singapore-based data center operator ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) in a deal valued at over S$13 billion (around US$10 billion), potentially making it one of the largest data center transactions in Asia. According to the Wall Street Journal, KKR is pursuing the acquisition alongside Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel). ST Telemedia, a unit of Temasek Holdings, currently owns about 82% of STT GDC, while KKR holds roughly 14% and Singtel more than 4%. Bloomberg also reported that Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala are exploring participation as minority investors in the consortium. Singtel confirmed that discussions are at an advanced stage but emphasized that no binding agreement has been finalized. KKR declined to comment, while STT GDC, ST Telemedia, GIC, and Mubadala have yet to issue official statements. Reuters previously reported that KKR and Singtel were in talks to acquire more than 80% of STT GDC for over S$5 billion, suggesting the latest negotiations imply a significantly higher valuation and could result in full control by the buyers. Investor interest is being driven by surging demand for digital infrastructure amid rapid AI adoption. Founded in 2014, STT GDC operates more than 100 data centers with over 2 gigawatts of IT load capacity across more than 20 markets, including Singapore, India, Japan, and Europe through its VIRTUS brand.
SpaceX Acquires xAI, Setting the Stage for a Potential Record-Breaking IPO
Elon Musk has taken another bold step by merging his aerospace company, SpaceX, with his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, in a strategic move that unites space technology with advanced AI capabilities. The acquisition integrates xAI’s AI platform, including the Grok chatbot, into SpaceX’s satellite and rocket infrastructure, strengthening Musk’s long-term vision of AI-powered space and communication systems. The deal comes at a critical moment as SpaceX is reportedly preparing for a major initial public offering (IPO), potentially as early as June, which could become one of the most significant listings in market history. Under the transaction, SpaceX is valued at around US$1 trillion, while xAI is valued at approximately US$250 billion, making the combined entity one of the most valuable private technology companies ever. Analysts believe a SpaceX–xAI IPO could raise more than US$25.6 billion, potentially surpassing Saudi Aramco’s 2019 IPO as the largest ever. Beyond its sheer size, the listing is expected to act as a catalyst for a revival of the global IPO market, encouraging other major private AI players such as OpenAI and Anthropic to consider going public after years of muted activity in the tech sector.