🎙️ podcast Analysis January 23, 2026 The Markets

Emerging Markets: Massive Broadening Trade Accelerates as Tech Concentration Unwinds

Emerging Markets European Banks Small Cap US Equities Precious Metals
Tickers
3 Picks
Conviction MEDIUM
Risk Profile 1.8/10 (LOW RISK)
Horizon 6-12 months
Signal Snapshot Core Theme: Global Equity Rotation

Geopolitical fears drive volatility

Tech concentration creates reallocation amplification

Tech earnings; Fed nomination; Bond volatility

Executive Summary

Goldman's European trading desk identifies a structural shift away from mega-cap tech concentration toward emerging markets and cyclical assets. Rich Pravoratsky notes that moving "a couple of dollars out of these companies into everything else is a massive impact" due to extreme S&P 500 concentration. The Russell 2000 has outperformed dramatically while big-cap tech faces capex constraints, DRAM shortages, and political pressure. Central bank gold demand accelerated after Russian asset confiscation, with Poland announcing 150 tons of purchases this week. Japanese bond volatility emerged as the primary risk factor, not geopolitical rhetoric, as fiscal expansion and early elections drive inflation expectations. The broadening trade encompasses two dimensions: domestic rotation from tech to small-caps (IWM up 12.69% YTD vs. likely tech underperformance) and international diversification into emerging markets (EEM up 38.23% YTD). Goldman specifically recommends Greek banks as having "a lot of room to get more allocation and multiple expansion." This represents a fundamental reversal from the "seven stocks and nothing else" regime that dominated 2023-2025. The key risk is bond market volatility tightening financial conditions, but current pro-growth policy stance suggests the cyclical trade persists through midterm elections.

Key Insights

01 Key Insight
Extreme S&P 500 concentration creates massive reallocation impact from small tech outflows
what Rich Pravoratsky said

“by the nature of the composition of the S&P, by the nature of the Comsa MSCI world, everybody has a lot of these equities. And so, if suddenly the foreword turns just don't look as compelling, the valuation looks a little bit elevated, moving a couple of dollars out of these companies into everything else is a massive impact”

Investment Implication Small outflows from mega-cap tech create disproportionate inflows to everything else, suggesting momentum in broadening trade will be self-reinforcing

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