A trend worth highlighting is evolving among European equities, as evidenced by the strong performance of the MSCI Europe Index, which gained 8.6% during Q1. Europe is significantly outpacing U.S. benchmarks such as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ, both of which experienced modest declines. For many investors, this shift has sparked new interest in the opportunities global markets can provide. In this memo, we take a closer look at the key drivers behind Europe’s equity resurgence and explore why international diversification may play a more important role in your portfolio moving forward.

Today, the global financial markets are experiencing significant declines following President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping new tariffs. Dubbed "Liberation Day," these measures include a universal 10% tariff on all imports, with additional "reciprocal tariffs" targeting specific countries such as China and the European Union.