2026 International Market Rally Prediction: Analysis of Tim Seymour’s CNBC Insights Amid 2025 Outperformance

This analysis is based on CNBC’s “The Exchange” segment [1] where Tim Seymour of Seymour Asset Management predicts international markets will sustain their 2025 outperformance into 2026. Supporting this context, 2025 market data [0] shows the MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) gained 30.67%, the MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) rose 26.86%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500’s 15.96% return. On January 5, 2026, pre-market trading signals early momentum: Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.97% [0], while U.S. equity futures advanced broadly (Dow Jones futures +1.53%, Russell 2000 futures +1.79% [0]). Key catalysts include Seymour’s emphasis on favorable valuations and policy tailwinds for international assets [1], the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (driving energy and blue-chip gains [3]), and upcoming U.S. nonfarm payrolls data (to inform Federal Reserve policy [2]).

Cross-domain connections include the 2025 outperformance setting a positive psychological and fundamental foundation for 2026 international market momentum [0][1]. The Nikkei 225’s 2.97% surge on January 5, 2026, aligns with Seymour’s prediction, reflecting continued strength in developed international markets [0]. U.S. pre-market gains, particularly in small caps, suggest a dual trend: domestic cyclical focus alongside global momentum. The Maduro arrest introduces geopolitical and energy market variables that could interact with international market flows [3], while the nonfarm payrolls report may impact U.S. policy, which in turn affects global asset performance [2].

Opportunities lie in the favorable valuations and policy support cited by Seymour for international markets, building on their 2025 outperformance [1]. The Nikkei 225’s momentum and EFA/EEM’s 2025 returns indicate potential for sustained gains. Risks include uncertainty around U.S. Federal Reserve policy shifts, which could be influenced by the upcoming nonfarm payrolls report and affect global capital flows [2]. Geopolitical developments beyond the Maduro arrest may also introduce volatility. Additionally, U.S. small-cap leadership in pre-market trading suggests potential rotation that could divert capital from international assets [0].

This analysis synthesizes Tim Seymour’s prediction of a 2026 international market rally, supported by 2025 performance data showing EEM (+30.67%) and EFA (+26.86%) outperforming the S&P 500 (+15.96% [0]). Pre-market trading on January 5, 2026, showed the Nikkei 225 surging 2.97% and U.S. futures advancing. Catalysts include Seymour’s valuation/policy tailwinds, the Maduro arrest, and upcoming nonfarm payrolls data. No investment recommendations are provided, but the analysis highlights trends and factors to monitor for decision-making context.