Investing.com - Emerging markets regained more of their luster in 2017 and are expected to post solid gains for the third straight year in 2018.Foreign investors poured $235 billion into emerging market investments last year and were rewarded with returns that topped those of developed stock markets in Europe, Asia and the U.S. The MSCI Emerging Market Index, for instance, rose more than 37% in 2017.Analysts cite a number of reasons for the positive outlook. Economic growth in the overall emerging market category is expected to be strong--almost 5%--with continued improvement in big economies such as Russia and Brazil,In addition, a weaker dollar, higher commodities prices, improved corporate profit margins and investor-friendly government policies are all expected to help boost stock prices.The biggest risks to the rosy scenario are a slowdown in China's economy and protectionism out of the U.S.