AI投资引燃融资热潮，全球可转债发行规模创24年新高

Core Insights - The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is rapidly reshaping the global financing market, leading companies to raise significant funds through convertible bonds, with global issuance expected to reach approximately $166.5 billion by 2025, marking a 24-year high since 2001 and nearing historical records [1] - The surge in financing is driven by substantial investments in AI infrastructure and related technologies, with companies like Alibaba, Lumentum Holdings, and Super Micro utilizing convertible bonds to fund their AI-related bets [1] - Convertible bonds, which combine features of debt and equity, are projected to outperform large-cap stocks and traditional bonds in 2025 after years of low returns [1] Group 1: AI-Driven Financing - AI-related companies are becoming increasingly dominant in the convertible bond market, contributing significantly to issuance volumes and investment returns, with approximately 40% of last year's benchmark convertible bond index returns driven by AI-related firms [3] - Companies such as Lumentum, Super Micro, and CoreWeave have raised billions through convertible bonds, while even cryptocurrency miners like Bitfarms Ltd. are turning to this financing method to support their transition to AI and high-performance computing [3] Group 2: Refinancing Demand and Mature Companies - The pressure from maturing debt is another key factor driving market recovery, with about a quarter of outstanding convertible bonds set to mature in the next two years, sustaining market activity [4] - In a high-interest rate environment, mature companies are reassessing the attractiveness of convertible bonds, which allow borrowing at lower interest costs despite potential equity dilution, as seen with European firms like Lufthansa and Ferrovial SE entering the market [4] Group 3: Rise and Resilience of the Asian Market - While North America remains the dominant player in the convertible bond market, the Asian market has played a crucial role in recent recovery, with Alibaba raising $3.2 billion and other insurance giants like Pacific and Ping An raising $2 billion and $1.5 billion respectively [5] - The Asian market is expected to provide more opportunities in 2026 as stock markets stabilize and interest rates level off, with convertible bonds becoming a mainstream financing tool in the region [5] - Despite concerns about the sustainability of AI spending, the convertible bond asset class has shown resilience against market volatility, with Bloomberg data indicating that the Bloomberg Global Convertible Bond Index's decline was less than that of the MSCI World Index during last year's market fluctuations [5]