When did global bond issuance reach $1 trillion in 2026?

Global publicly syndicated bond issuance reached the $1 trillion milestone on Monday, February 3, 2026.

What is driving the record global bond issuance?

Borrowers are seizing soaring investor demand and historically low borrowing costs to lock in financing, with significant funding needed for artificial intelligence data centers.

Who are the main issuers in the record bond market?

Governments represent over 40% of this year's issuance volume, followed closely by financial firms, with corporations expected to increase their participation.

Home / Business and Economy / Global Bonds Hit $1 Trillion Faster Than Ever

Global Bonds Hit $1 Trillion Faster Than Ever

3 Feb

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Summary

Global bond issuance surpassed $1 trillion by Monday.
Governments and financial firms dominate the issuance volume.
AI data center funding is projected to require over $3 trillion.

Global Bonds Hit $1 Trillion Faster Than Ever

Global publicly syndicated bond issuance reached $1 trillion on Monday, a new record achieved earlier than in 2024 and 2025. This surge is driven by borrowers capitalizing on high investor demand and historically low borrowing costs. Oracle Corp.'s $25 billion offering was the largest single corporate bond sale of the year.

Government-issued bonds comprise more than 40% of the total volume, with financial firms closely following at nearly 35%. This includes significant deals from entities like Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Corporations, particularly tech companies, are expected to increase their share of issuance as quarterly results become public.

The immense need for funding artificial intelligence data centers, estimated at over $3 trillion, underpins the robust market activity. Despite some concerns about market complacency following a record issuance year in 2025, investor demand has pushed borrowing spreads to multi-decade lows. January 2026 also saw record-breaking issuance for both euro-denominated notes and U.S. high-grade corporate bonds.