Barclays has reported that companies actively hiring AI experts are experiencing stronger stock and bond performance in 2026, while those that are lagging in AI hiring have faced an average equity return drop of -19%. This trend occurs alongside a significant increase in corporate bond supply driven by AI-related capital expenditures, as businesses look to adapt to the changing market landscape. Investors are also reacting to concerns over potential AI disruption by shifting from equities to bonds, contributing to notable sector variability.
Barclays finds AI hiring correlates with stock, bond outperformance
