Beyond Bulls & Bears

Fixed Income

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Perspectives

Brexit: The Countdown Begins

Our Dylan Ball and David Zahn share what they’re watching in European equity and fixed income markets as the one-year countdown to Brexit begins.

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Perspectives

Artificial Intelligence: Real Influence

Franklin Templeton's investment leaders weigh in on why new technologies can influence more than just a single industry or sector.

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Fixed Income

Fed Remains in Tightening Mode in March

The US Federal Reserve remained in tightening mode at its March monetary policy meeting, raising its benchmark interest rate for the sixth time since December 2015. Chris Molumphy, chief investment officer, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group, offers his take on the market implications—and why he feels it’s more important for investors to focus on the US economy’s (healthy) fundamentals rather than the exact number of rate increases this year.

Christopher J. Molumphy, CFA |
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Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: March

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group covers US trade worries, potential removal of presidential term limits in China, the Italian election aftermath and more in this month's Global Economic Perspective.

Christopher J. Molumphy, CFA |
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Fixed Income

What the Italian Election Tells Us About Populism in Europe

David Zahn, Franklin Templeton’s head of European Fixed Income, remains optimistic on Italy’s long-term fundamentals, but believes the political trajectory of the country is a concern.

David Zahn, CFA, FRM |
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Fixed Income

Environmental, Social and Governance Factors in Global Macro Investing

“Strong governance institutions, social cohesion and sustainable environmental policies support economic growth and higher income levels. At the same time, as countries become richer they can invest more in state-of-the-art infrastructure, assign greater priority to environmental sustainability, and develop a well-educated middle class that demands better social and political institutions.” - Michael Hasenstab, CIO, Templeton Global Macro

Michael Hasenstab, Ph.D. |
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Fixed Income

Italian Election Result: Political Uncertainty is Business as Usual for Italy

No outright winner emerged from the Italian general election, but as David Zahn, Franklin Templeton’s head of European Fixed Income, explains that situation is normal for Italy. He expects a muted response from European bond markets but cautions there may be consequences down the road if the authorities fail to take the need for reform seriously.

David Zahn, CFA, FRM |
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Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: February

“The opening months of 2018 have seen volatility return to global financial markets, but we think it is important to stress US economic fundamentals have remained broadly the same. After an unusually long period of calm in many markets, the reappearance of volatility at some point seemed likely, even if the speed of market gyrations has been unsettling for investors.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

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Fixed Income

Italian Election Outlook and Why We Don’t See an ECB Rate Hike Before 2020

The upcoming Italian election is not attracting the same sort of attention among investors as votes last year in France and Germany. For that very reason, David Zahn, Franklin Templeton’s Head of European Fixed Income, believes an unexpected result might provoke an outsized market reaction. And while investors seem more preoccupied with the trajectory of eurozone monetary policy, Zahn believes there are good reasons to think the European Central Bank will hold off until 2020 before pushing interest rates up.

David Zahn, CFA, FRM |
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Fixed Income

1-on-1 With Michael Hasenstab: Market Changes and Challenges

Take an around-the-world market tour with Templeton Global Macro CIO Michael Hasenstab in our latest “Talking Markets” podcast. Hasenstab shares his thoughts on navigating today’s market challenges. He covers recent market volatility, inflationary threats in the United States, upcoming elections in Latin America, potential “fault lines” in Europe and credit risk in China.

Michael Hasenstab, Ph.D. |
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Fixed Income

The Underappreciated Story: How Brexit Threatens to Shift the Balance of Power in the EU

“We think the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU may start to show up differences of attitude among different factions within the trading bloc. And, it may bring about a switch in the balance of power in the European Parliament.” David Zahn, Head of European Fixed Income.

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Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: January

"Just as attempts to use historical precedents to predict the length and durability of the US economic cycle are undermined by the idiosyncratic nature of its recovery since the global financial crisis, much the same argument can be made about the wider global economy.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

Christopher J. Molumphy, CFA |