China’s Weibo said in its AI Content Ecosystem Report that in Q1 AI-interest users rose 328% versus Q4 2024. In the platform’s AI segment, Gold/Orange V accounts were up 86% YoY, corporate official accounts rose 168% YoY and expert/executive accounts increased 105% YoY. AI-related discussion volume in Q1 climbed 18% YoY; driven by breakthroughs in video foundation models, AI video production jumped 82% QoQ.

BNY MELLON analyst Bob Savage said markets are showing rising fatigue as renewed U.S.-Iran military escalation, higher yields and hawkish central bank guidance pressure equities and fixed income. Investors are reassessing the durability of the global risk-asset rebound. Central banks' growing concern about the persistence of inf from an energy shock and firmer growth is reinforcing market expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates. The flare-up has lifted oil, the dollar and US govt bond yields; supply-disruption risk around the Strait of Hormuz and shrinking strategic reserves are keeping the energy complex volatile.

Japan bought foreign bonds worth ¥10.3 bln in the week to May 22; the previous figure was revised from ¥758.7 bln to ¥762.1 bln.