SoftBank swings to $7 billion loss as AI data-centre costs swell

· Tech · Japan

SoftBank Group reported a first-half loss of about $7 billion, swinging from profit, as US data-centre costs swelled and AI hopes faced new setbacks, according to Japan Times and Nikkei Asia. Analysts had on average expected a profit of more than $800 million. Despite the loss, SoftBank shares surged 14% as Asian tech stocks tracked a Wall Street rebound and a sharp decline in oil prices lifted sentiment, with renewed buying in semiconductor names. SoftBank is a major investor in AI and data-centre projects, and the result highlights the costs of the infrastructure build-out.

Why it matters：SoftBank is one of the biggest backers of the AI build-out, so its losses signal how expensive the boom has become for investors.

Key points

  • First-half loss of about $7 billion versus expected profit.
  • US data-centre costs drove the shortfall.
  • Shares rose 14% as Asian tech stocks rebounded.

Sources (original reporting)

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