RBC Builds Out Credit-Derivatives Desk as AI-Linked Debt Draws Hedging Demand
- Royal Bank of Canada is expanding its credit-default-swap and total-return-swap franchise, betting that explosive AI-related private credit issuance will drive hedging demand, Bloomberg reported (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-13/rbc-expands-credit-derivatives-trading-as-ai-debt-fuels-hedging).
- The build-out reflects how AI capex is migrating from equity-financed tech names into leveraged credit markets.
- The move positions RBC to capture flow from borrowers and investors looking to lay off default risk on data-center and AI-infrastructure debt.