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Covering the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland every year is something I consider a competitive sport.
I’m actually starting training for the intensive week over the summer, as my few close friends know (and yes, they all make fun of me). The number of workouts each week in the lead-up gradually increases until I can easily sprint up and down two miles with a backpack to get in as many meets as possible (yes, I do this).
My one cheat meal a week is replaced with green drinks and extra doses of vitamins to ensure I don’t get sick. I meditate twice a day and carefully choose clothes that I know will help me perform at my highest level. Look good, feel good, good things happen.
For me, this event is the closest I’ll get to being like Michael Jordan in the playoffs – and I’m very fortunate to be attending.
This year, a gathering of elites traveling on private jets to wax poetic about the world’s biggest problems would be very strange.
Read more: Here are the biggest global risks for 2025
The conference unofficially begins on Trump’s inauguration day. Some CEOs I know who are usually in Davos all week, retreat midweek after work on inauguration tours. By Tuesday, the new president may have unveiled a host of executive orders that could impact the actions of top executives on the ground. And of course the impact on global markets.
That’s why this year’s World Economic Forum will be more important than usual for you, the average investor. The headlines will be hot and heavy as CEOs look to challenge Trump or get on his good side. They will also be looking to talk about their business ahead of the start of earnings season, and with the markets having been down a bit lately.
Here’s what’s really yours and what’s ours Jennifer Schoenberger It will be seen being assembled into five layers throughout the week. Be sure to bookmark Yahoo Finance’s “Stream Now” section to catch all the market-moving interviews in real time. Or you can tune in where you usually watch us, whether that’s on your Samsung TV or our nifty app.
Unlike our previous trips to Davos over the past decade, I will be recording several special podcast episodes for the live opening. I could tell you who those guests would be, but where’s the fun in that? Better be surprised!
Now to this guide…
Heads of major banks: The biggest names in banking, such as JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, Bank of America (BAC) CEO Brian Moynihan, Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO David Solomon, and Citi (C) CEO Jane Fraser, and Morgan Stanley (MS) CEO Ted Beck will be present. While this group will all be asked about Trump’s policies, their outlook on interest rates will be the most important for market sentiment. Most have not spoken publicly since the Fed signaled a potential pause on interest rate cuts last month, and will want to be heard before the Fed’s policy meeting on January 28-29.
Definition of CEOs: The retail sector will have a great showing in Davos, as the CEOs of Polo Ralph Lauren (RL), Williams Sonoma (WSM), and Gap (GAP) (their CEO’s first time at the event) make the rounds. These companies are in the middle of the tariff debate. I’d be interested in how they prepare for Trump’s tariffs from a supply chain perspective. I’m also interested in how much they can raise prices after the tariffs – that could provide insight into 2025 inflation expectations and Fed policy.
The race to catch Nvidia: This will be another year of AI chatter throughout the halls of Davos. This time, I think the discussions will take two forms. First, unlike last year, where AI discussions were mostly about potential, investors will want to see clear lines of revenue and earnings. So I encourage AI CEOs to make this happen. Second, we’ll likely hear more about how big tech companies Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOGL) are looking to develop their own high-powered AI chips to catch up to Nvidia (NVDA), or at least make chips good enough to diversify. . OpenAI and Anthropic leaders will also be in attendance, and their thoughts on the chips could be key. I’ll be watching Nvidia’s stock price like a hawk this week, and you should too.
Encryption authorization: The cryptocurrency industry has had a strong presence in Davos over the past five years. The industry is expected to take effect this year, headlined by the appearance of Coinbase (COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong. I’ll be paying close attention to what the crypto crowd thinks about the latest Bitcoin volatility, MicroStrategy’s (MSTR) Bitcoin overbought, what they’re hearing from the pro-crypto Trump administration, and early assessments of Paul Atkins as the potential next SEC. president.
Stock: Stocks are starting to look very top-heavy (especially the seven great stocks), as you mentioned. I’m eager to hear from market professionals like JP Morgan Mary Erdos And economists like Nouriel Roubini talk about whether they see red flags on the horizon. Any calls they make in Davos may carry more weight given more volatile market conditions and increased uncertainty about Trump’s policy.
Political wild cards: As of this writing, my contacts have informed me that President-elect Donald Trump intends to send delegates to Davos. Whoever specifically gets the nod is the wild card. (I imagine it would be potential Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has been frequenting Davos parties for many years. Elon has always hated Davos, and it’s very hard to see him show up.) Trump himself is scheduled to deliver a speech remotely on Thursday, a source told Yahoo Finance.
But who ultimately emerges from Trump’s orbit — and what they say once there — could set the tone for American international relations right out of the gate. If a delegate arrives in Davos days after Trump took actions that could affect foreign countries’ economic growth, and then takes aim at explaining those actions, we’d best believe the inevitable headlines might not be market-friendly.
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Brian Susie He is the executive editor of Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on X @Brian Susie, Instagram And on LinkedIn. Tips about stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com. Three times a week, Sozzi holds insightful conversations with the biggest names in business and markets on Yahoo Finance. Open the bid Podcast. Find more episodes on our website Video center. Watch on your own Favorite streaming service. Or listen and subscribe Apple Podcast, SpotifyOr wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
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