The current rotation out of US tech stocks should not be mistaken for a US growth problem. It is supported by better global growth prospects, strong relative earnings, and positive PMI data outside the US, which reinforces the case for pro-cyclical positioning in FX markets and other assets.

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Contrary to the belief that US strength harms the Euro, historical data shows the EUR/USD pair performs best when growth outlooks for *both* regions are being upgraded. This is because the Euro is fundamentally a pro-cyclical 'growth currency,' benefiting from a global risk-on environment even when the US also thrives.

While the idea of US growth re-acceleration is driving dollar strength, it's not the only story. Recent positive surprises in European PMI data and upgraded Chinese GDP forecasts suggest broader global growth resilience. This breadth should help cap the US dollar's rally and may promote weakness against other currencies.

While large-cap tech stocks are showing weakness, cyclical sectors like small caps, consumer discretionary, and restaurants are breaking out. This suggests capital is flowing from concentrated, high-valuation names to broader, economy-sensitive assets, indicating a significant shift in market leadership.

In 2025, US stocks underperformed global peers despite superior earnings growth. Non-US markets saw significant price increases on flat or negative earnings, a divergence that Goldman Sachs Wealth Management believes is unsustainable, reinforcing their long-term US overweight thesis based on earnings fundamentals.

The Federal Reserve's dovish stance, combined with a resilient global growth outlook, creates a favorable environment for "pro-cyclical" currencies like the Australian Dollar and Norwegian Krone. This "middle of the dollar smile" scenario suggests betting on currencies sensitive to global economic momentum, not just betting against the dollar.

The link between emerging market currencies (EMFX) and US tech stocks is not about the tech sector itself. Global equity markets have become a unified signal for the global economic cycle. A sell-off worries investors about global growth, impacting risk-on EM currencies regardless of their direct tech exposure.

Stronger US growth isn't hurting EM currencies because growth is also being revised up globally in places like China and Europe. This prevents a repeat of the 'US exceptionalism' theme that typically strengthens the dollar and pressures EM assets, making the current environment less problematic for EMFX.

A wide range of historically reliable leading indicators—including copper prices, non-traded commodities, Korean equities, and small-cap stocks—are all simultaneously pointing towards a strengthening global cyclical outlook. This alignment across different assets and regions provides a more substantive and reliable signal than any single indicator could.

International buyers want exposure to high-performing US companies like NVIDIA but are simultaneously hedging against a declining US dollar. They are separating the appeal of American corporate exceptionalism from growing concerns about US sovereign risk and currency depreciation.

The positive outlook on Emerging Markets is backed by tangible upward revisions to economic forecasts. J.P. Morgan has increased its growth projections for the Euro area and China, supported by strong PMI data and surprisingly robust Asian exports, which indicates a strengthening global cyclical environment favorable for the asset class.

US Equity Rotation Is Not a Growth Scare, But a Shift Driven by Strong Global PMIs | RiffOn