LIVE MARKETS — The slow way rates matter for the AI trade

(Adds new blog) STOXX 600 up 0.6%, set for weekly gain Asia shares bounce as tech worries ease Media, autos lead S&P futures higher Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at The Slow Way Rates Matter For The Ai Trade The theme of the week has been worries about AI trade and rates, but while everyone might be nervous about a big bang shock, Mark Dowding, fixed income CIO at BlueBay, says higher rates could slow the AI buildout through countless small decisions In a Friday note, he says companies in sectors beyond AI are starting to get squeezed by higher rates, and this is translating into a greater focus on cost containment, including on AI. "It seems that token spend is starting to be rationed by many managers after an initial free-for-all," he said. "This is not to suggest that AI growth and infrastructure build is set to slow or stop, just that the continued pattern of quarter-on-quarter acceleration across all metrics may be starting to moderate," Dowding continues. (Alun John) *** Earlier On Live Markets: Déjà Vu For The Cac 40 Click Here What's Next For The Ai Trade? Click Here Stoxx 600 H