Published 2026-02-26
Summary: Emerging markets are highlighted as one of the potential standout trades for 2024, with notable performance in equities during the early to mid-year period, aided by IT sectors in some economies, while consumer staples lagged. Details on specific markets beyond general trends remain nuanced and not fully conclusive.
What We Know
- Emerging-market equities returned 9.6% between January and August 2024, according to available sources.
- In the three months ended August 31, 2024, emerging-market equities rose by 5.9%.
- South Korea and Taiwan were buoyed by strength in the Information Technology sector in 2024.
- China and Brazil were noted as holding back returns due to concerns about slowing economic growth.
- Consumer Staples was identified as the worst performing sector among emerging markets in 2024.
What’s Still Unclear
- Whether the 9.6% and 5.9% figures refer to a single index or a composite across multiple markets.
- Details on performance for other large EM markets beyond China, Brazil, Korea, and Taiwan.
- Any standalone, titled “Emerging Markets Standout Trades Emerge in 2024” recommendations or specific instruments mentioned in the sources.
- Broader implications for 2025 and beyond beyond the summarized 2024 context.
Context
Emerging markets have been a focus of investor attention due to varying growth trajectories, sector drivers (notably IT in some economies), and sensitivity to global growth and policy shifts. The performance snapshot for 2024 presents a mixed picture across regions and sectors, illustrating both upside opportunities and downside risks within EM asset classes.
Why It Matters
For investors, the highlighted performance suggests potential opportunities in EM equities, especially in markets and sectors showing resilience. The uneven sector performance underscores the importance of diversification and careful sector and country selection when seeking to capitalize on EM trends.
What to Watch Next
- Monitor performance developments in key EM markets, especially regarding IT-driven gains in Korea and Taiwan and growth concerns in China and Brazil.
- Observe sector leadership shifts within emerging markets, noting any reversion from Consumer Staples and other underperforming areas.
- Assess how external factors (global growth, policy changes, trade dynamics) influence EM risk/return profiles going forward.
FAQ
Q: What time period do the performance figures refer to?
A: The sources cite performance for January–August 2024 and the three months ended August 31, 2024, but do not specify a single unified index across all sources.
Q: Which markets drove the gains or drove the declines?
A: South Korea and Taiwan were highlighted as IT-driven gains, while China and Brazil were noted as holding back returns due to slowing growth; more complete country performance data is not provided in the available materials.
Related coverage
- Bitcoin Drops 50% from October Peak as Institutional
- Amundi Japan bonds bullish as foreign buyers flood Japan
- OpenClaw safety timeline: Expert warns fixes may take
Source Transparency
- This article is based on a short preliminary brief and may not reflect the full details available in ongoing reporting.
- Source links are provided in the Sources section where available.
- A limited open-web check was used to clarify key details when possible; unclear items remain clearly marked.
Original brief: Emerging markets are shaping up to be one of this year’s standout trades…
Sources
- Emerging markets outlook – Fall 2024 | RBC Global Asset Management …
- 2024 – The Emerging Markets Investor
- Year End Emerging Markets Review and Outlook – Mondrian
- NU, QFIN, and BAP: 3 Top Emerging Market Stocks of 2024
- 3 Top-Performing US-Traded Emerging Market Stocks in 2024