Analysis: Davos bosses tread warily in rocky emerging markets

By Ben Hirschler DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Multinational companies are becoming more picky about emerging market investments as slowing growth in upstart economies and a recovery in the West takes the shine off a previous sure-fire strategic bet. Now the gold rush is over," said Jeff Joerres, chief executive of staffing company Manpower Group , whose clients include many top international firms. Emerging markets will still grow at a faster clip than developed markets this year but the difference in growth rates will be the lowest since 2002. The balance between emerging and developed economies is a central topic at this week's World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss Alps, as highlighted by a session on Thursday entitled "BRICS in Midlife Crisis?" Growth rates for Brazil, Russia, India and China are half their pre-financial crisis levels – and companies are taking a hard look at alternatives beyond the "big four".