Here's something counterintuitive: European stocks crushed it this year precisely because they stayed on the sidelines of the AI frenzy. While tech-heavy indices got whipsawed by hype cycles, Europe's old-economy exposure delivered steadier gains.

But don't get too comfortable. A senior analyst at a major French bank just dropped a reality check—if Wall Street tanks, Europe won't be immune. The transatlantic correlation still runs deep, especially when panic selling kicks in. So yeah, Europe dodged the AI volatility bullet, but systemic risks? Those don't respect borders.