Investing Goes Global

From an article The Global Bet, in today's Wash Post Business Section:

1. Six years ago, only about 8% of new money flowing into U.S. stock funds was invested overseas. Now, that number is hovering around 77%, as American investors look longingly at soaring returns in international markets.

2. Investors have a total of $5.3 trillion invested in U.S. stock funds, including $950 billion in international stocks. Although that only accounts for 18%, that total is growing rapidly as overseas gains outpace gains in U.S. markets and as globalization makes Americans more aware of foreign companies and products.

3. Last year, international funds had average returns of 26%, compared with 12% for domestic funds. Funds that invest in emerging markets had gains of 32%. Gains have been even more dramatic in rapidly growing countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.

See my previous post on global stock returns.