We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Level Up Your Portfolio With These Emerging Market ETFs
Read MoreHide Full Article
Navigating their way through a volatile geopolitical backdrop and tariff uncertainty, emerging markets delivered robust gains in 2025, with stocks rising roughly 26%, per Reuters.
Investors, increasingly optimistic that emerging markets will continue with their momentum in 2026, attributed the outperformance to increased diversification flows away from developed markets and reform progress across emerging economies, per the abovementioned Reuters article. According to an HSBC survey, emerging market pessimism vanished, with net sentiment reaching a record high, tied for the highest in the survey’s history.
The Dow Jones Emerging Markets Index has gained 18.64% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which has gained 15.19% during the same period. The emerging market index has fallen around 1% month to date, compared to the S&P 500, which has lost about 1.09%.
EM Funds Gain as Investors Look Beyond U.S. Exposure
Markets remain divided over whether an AI-driven bubble is taking shape, keeping investor sentiment fragile and risk appetite subdued. Against this backdrop, investors are increasingly diversifying portfolios to limit potential downside should an AI bubble emerge.
Investors with portfolios concentrated in ETFs tracking major U.S. benchmarks like the S&P 500 are more exposed to the information technology sector than they might realize, particularly to the “Magnificent 7” tech giants. While the S&P 500 offers broad market exposure, it has a roughly 35% allocation to information technology.
In this environment, many investors are increasing exposure to emerging market funds, diversifying away from crowded U.S. equity trades. Broadening geographic exposure can help reduce reliance on the U.S. information technology sector, particularly the “Magnificent 7” tech giants, strengthen overall portfolio diversification, and potentially improve risk-adjusted returns over the long term.
According to Reuters, emerging market equity funds saw $2.78 billion in inflows in the week to Dec. 10, marking the seventh straight week of net buying.
Expectations of further Fed rate cuts in 2026 also add to the appeal of emerging market funds. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets are anticipating a 25.5% likelihood of interest rates being lowered to 3.25-3.5% in its January 2026 meeting, up from a 15.3% likelihood just a month earlier.
A weakening greenback further fuels interest in global equity funds. The greenback's value tends to move inversely with interest rate adjustments by the Fed. Interest rate cuts by the Fed make the U.S. dollar less attractive to foreign investors, as this weakens it.
According to TradingView, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has fallen 0.90% over the past month and 9.07% year to date. The index has recorded an all-time decline of 17.69%.
ETFs to Explore
Below, we highlight a few funds that investors can use to increase their exposure to emerging market economies.
According to James Lord, strategist at Morgan Stanley, emerging market fundamentals are strengthening, as sovereign credit improvements gain momentum year after year, as quoted on Reuters.
According to another Reuters article, emerging market bond funds saw $68 million in inflows in the week to Dec. 10.
Investors can also consider iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB - Free Report) , VanguardEmerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB - Free Report) , Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY - Free Report) and Global X Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBD - Free Report) to gain exposure to emerging market bonds.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Level Up Your Portfolio With These Emerging Market ETFs
Navigating their way through a volatile geopolitical backdrop and tariff uncertainty, emerging markets delivered robust gains in 2025, with stocks rising roughly 26%, per Reuters.
Investors, increasingly optimistic that emerging markets will continue with their momentum in 2026, attributed the outperformance to increased diversification flows away from developed markets and reform progress across emerging economies, per the abovementioned Reuters article. According to an HSBC survey, emerging market pessimism vanished, with net sentiment reaching a record high, tied for the highest in the survey’s history.
The Dow Jones Emerging Markets Index has gained 18.64% year to date, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which has gained 15.19% during the same period. The emerging market index has fallen around 1% month to date, compared to the S&P 500, which has lost about 1.09%.
EM Funds Gain as Investors Look Beyond U.S. Exposure
Markets remain divided over whether an AI-driven bubble is taking shape, keeping investor sentiment fragile and risk appetite subdued. Against this backdrop, investors are increasingly diversifying portfolios to limit potential downside should an AI bubble emerge.
Investors with portfolios concentrated in ETFs tracking major U.S. benchmarks like the S&P 500 are more exposed to the information technology sector than they might realize, particularly to the “Magnificent 7” tech giants. While the S&P 500 offers broad market exposure, it has a roughly 35% allocation to information technology.
In this environment, many investors are increasing exposure to emerging market funds, diversifying away from crowded U.S. equity trades. Broadening geographic exposure can help reduce reliance on the U.S. information technology sector, particularly the “Magnificent 7” tech giants, strengthen overall portfolio diversification, and potentially improve risk-adjusted returns over the long term.
According to Reuters, emerging market equity funds saw $2.78 billion in inflows in the week to Dec. 10, marking the seventh straight week of net buying.
Weak Dollar, Easier Fed Policy Lift Emerging Market Appeal
Expectations of further Fed rate cuts in 2026 also add to the appeal of emerging market funds. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets are anticipating a 25.5% likelihood of interest rates being lowered to 3.25-3.5% in its January 2026 meeting, up from a 15.3% likelihood just a month earlier.
A weakening greenback further fuels interest in global equity funds. The greenback's value tends to move inversely with interest rate adjustments by the Fed. Interest rate cuts by the Fed make the U.S. dollar less attractive to foreign investors, as this weakens it.
According to TradingView, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has fallen 0.90% over the past month and 9.07% year to date. The index has recorded an all-time decline of 17.69%.
ETFs to Explore
Below, we highlight a few funds that investors can use to increase their exposure to emerging market economies.
Emerging Market Equity ETFs
Investors can consider iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG - Free Report) , Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO - Free Report) , iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM - Free Report) , SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM - Free Report) and Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM - Free Report) .
Emerging Market Bond ETFs
According to James Lord, strategist at Morgan Stanley, emerging market fundamentals are strengthening, as sovereign credit improvements gain momentum year after year, as quoted on Reuters.
According to another Reuters article, emerging market bond funds saw $68 million in inflows in the week to Dec. 10.
Investors can also consider iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB - Free Report) , Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB - Free Report) , Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY - Free Report) and Global X Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBD - Free Report) to gain exposure to emerging market bonds.