Most investors are probably aware that the stock markets of "emerging," or developing, nations have been the big winners so far this year.
Since January, the MSCI Emerging Markets index has outpaced the MSCI World index by a hefty 18.1%.
But even then, the divergence in performance between various regions has been striking, with some of these traditionally volatile markets doing far better than others.
For instance, the "BRICs" -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- have beaten the emerging markets benchmark by 7.7%, while its solely European-based counterpart has lagged by 13.65%, or nearly twice as much.
It just goes to show that when it comes to investing overseas, choosing the right stocks, sectors, and "themes" can really make a world of difference.
Michael Panzner is a 25-year veteran of the global stock, bond, and currency markets and the author of Financial Armageddon: Protecting Your Future from Four Impending Catastrophes and The New Laws of the Stock Market Jungle.
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