Global stock market capitalization is on track to reach its highest level in three years, driven by recent interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and economic stimulus measures from China.
According to Bank of America, global stock market capitalization is expected to exceed the record $123 trillion set in October 2021, based on data from GFD Finaeon.
The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, which tracks both U.S. and international stocks, has already surpassed its previous peak, achieving a new all-time high.
Bank of America strategists, led by Michael Hartnett, noted that market anxiety tends to decrease when policymakers take decisive actions. This week, China announced monetary stimulus measures alongside the Fed’s half-percentage-point rate cut, contributing to a rebound in confidence.
The Hang Seng index experienced a remarkable 13% surge this week, marking its best performance since 1998. The strategists indicated that the Fed’s decision to cut rates without a looming recession is favorable for riskier assets. Investors believe that the recent policy shifts from the Fed and China could mitigate recession risks.
To capitalize on the situation in China, the strategists recommend focusing on industrial metals, materials, and international stocks, particularly if the stimulus efforts support a stable yield for China’s 10-year bonds, which yielded around 2.17% on Friday.
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest dollar-pegged stablecoin, has quietly expanded its footprint into the precious-metals sector.
Bitcoin and broader crypto markets may be entering a stronger phase heading into the second half of 2025, as macroeconomic risks ease and investor sentiment improves.
Pakistan has found an unexpected use for the electricity it routinely leaves untapped: power thousands of Bitcoin rigs and AI servers.
Cardano’s leadership is floating an unconventional idea: turn part of the project’s war chest into a revenue-generating portfolio that holds Bitcoin and USD-pegged tokens.