An unidentified seller is trying to unload about $500 million in data-center loans through a single auction, an unusual sale focused entirely on debt linked to the sector. The portfolio contains 12 loans, including a $25 million portion financing a New Mexico site associated with the Stargate venture between OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle. Oracle recently issued the project’s developer a force majeure notice. Other loans are tied to operators Vantage Data Centers and CyrusOne. Bids of at least $10 million are due Nov. 19.
The sale comes as investors question whether demand and revenue will justify the enormous spending on AI infrastructure, and whether credit markets can absorb the growing volume of related borrowing. The political backdrop has added uncertainty: after Democrats’ midterm gains, Texas’s incoming governor has called for an immediate halt to data-center construction, affecting a state where many developers operate. Markets have also turned against AI-linked investments, with the Nasdaq 100 dropping sharply and some high-yield bonds tied to data-center firms and projects among the hardest hit. The auction may signal mounting caution among lenders and investors about the sector’s prospects, amid wider concerns that financing large AI projects is becoming more difficult. Banks and investment firms are also trying to distribute portions of a record chip-financing deal connected to SpaceX, which they committed to before market sentiment weakened.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
The EU’s new Return Regulation expands the grounds and duration for immigration detention, including for children, and increases deportations. Critics warn that surveillance-based alternatives and externalization measures extend coercive migration controls beyond detention centers. (statewatch.org)
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden says the PS6 should prioritize affordability over more processing power, arguing a $300 console would be real innovation. He says rising console prices are shutting out buyers and Sony should focus on making hardware smaller and cheaper. (gamesradar.com)
EyesRhythm is an offline desktop app that uses a webcam to track blink rate and regularity, then offers gentle reminders and practice exercises. It also tracks head movement to encourage neck breaks, while keeping video on the device. (eyesrhythm.com)
Satellite images show Iran building new facilities near the Garmdareh and Shahroud missile bases and repairing damage at at least 12 other military sites. The work follows months of US and Israeli air strikes, according to analysts who reviewed the images. (bbc.com)
Stunt Car Racer’s computer opponents use three spring-mounted wheels to follow the track and cannot fall off. Drivers share the same engine but differ in their habits and swerving frequency; the AI also adjusts its speed and position around the player. (gamesexplained.com)
GeoWorks was a graphical operating system for PC-compatible computers that competed with Microsoft Windows in the 1990s. It offered a desktop interface on relatively modest hardware but failed to gain broad adoption as Windows became dominant. (atlasobscura.com)
Today's best Hacker News stories, summarized and screenshotted, one email a day.