Global Stock Markets Surge—Europe and Asia Take the Lead in 2025

As of August 2025, several international stock markets have significantly outperformed their global peers, with Europe leading the rally. Topping the charts is Greece, boasting a stellar 43.5% year-to-date gain. Its stock market surged on the back of structural reforms, a strengthened banking sector, and robust tourism.

Poland follows closely with a 35% gain, buoyed by solid economic fundamentals, investor optimism, and tailwinds from EU-wide growth. Austria makes the top three, delivering a 27% return, supported by industrial resilience and fiscal stability.

Rounding out the top five are Spain, with a 25.5% increase, thanks to continued economic recovery and reform momentum, and South Korea, the strongest performer in Asia with a 23.8% return, driven by a tech rebound and export-led growth.

Other notable performers include Italy’s FTSE MIB and Germany’s DAX, which gained 21.1% and 18.1% respectively, reflecting strong capital inflows into Europe’s industrial and infrastructure sectors.

In contrast, markets in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Southeast Asia have underwhelmed as investors reassess risk and geopolitical exposure.

These trends reveal a clear shift in global investor interest toward reform-driven, export-oriented economies across Europe and Asia for 2025.