đđGlobal stock markets added $53.2 trillion in capitalization between 2018 and 2024. The U.S. alone accounted for 60% of that growth, with its market doubling from $30T to $62Tâdriven by tech dominance, low interest rates, and an unmatched capital magnetism. This performance dwarfs that of Europe, which contributed only 7% ($3.8T), despite representing some of the worldâs oldest financial hubs.
Asia delivered 29% of the global increase, growing from $21T to $36T. The core drivers were China, despite regulatory headwinds, and India, fueled by tech services, retail investment, and rapid financialization. This eastward capital shift confirms Asiaâs ascent as a long-term growth engineâthough not yet a capital safe haven.
Europeâs lagâjust +29% growthâis largely rooted in high energy costs, regulatory friction, and fragmented capital markets. In contrast, U.S. policy continuity and liquidity depth turned Wall Street into the global benchmark. American firms dominate global passive flows, buyback cycles, and tech ETFsâcementing NYSE and NASDAQ as gravitational centers for global capital.
This redistribution signals a long-term reconfiguration of financial power. From 2018 to 2024, the global financial system rewarded scale, digital dominance, and dollar primacy. Regions without those traits were left behind.
If this pattern holds, the next $50T in capitalization growth may tilt even more decisively toward the U.S. and Asia, further marginalizing legacy financial regions.
Should Europe continue defending its regulatory modelâor pivot to attract innovation capital like the U.S. and India?#AMAGE