South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Global investors are increasingly looking past the artificial intelligence (AI) boom to longer-term opportunities fueled by massive government spending aimed at tackling geopolitical, technological, and demographic challenges. Asset managers are diversifying across infrastructure, energy transition, healthcare, and defense, seeking to benefit from unprecedented fiscal stimulus on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said his firm, which manages $4.5 trillion in assets, is aligning with government priorities by investing in power, resources, healthcare, and defense. He noted that many investors underestimated how deeply fiscal stimulus could impact real and financial assets.
In the U.S., July’s sweeping tax-cut and spending package is set to extend Trump-era tax cuts, boost border security and defense funding, while trimming Medicare and Medicaid. This move will add trillions to national debt but also drive significant capital into government-backed projects. Meanwhile, Europe is seeing similar momentum, led by Germany’s €500 billion infrastructure fund and NATO’s commitment to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.
Antonio Cavarero, head of investments at Generali Asset Management, emphasized that such stimulus programs create structural shifts lasting for years. He highlighted nuclear power, energy infrastructure, biotech, and defense as sectors the market cannot ignore, even though debt sustainability will eventually become a pressing issue.
While AI has powered much of the 14% rise in the S&P 500 this year, Europe’s STOXX 600 shows defense-related stocks surging nearly 68%, underscoring how fiscal priorities are reshaping market leadership.
Saira Malik, chief investment officer at Nuveen, which oversees $1.3 trillion, expects gains to broaden beyond U.S. tech to cyclical sectors, small-caps, and value plays. She advises balanced portfolios with U.S. exposure, while pointing to infrastructure, utilities, and waste management as inflation hedges.
Both UBS and Nuveen stressed that this is a market for active, not passive, management. As Haefele noted, “It’s less of a time for beta and more of a time for active investing.”
