Beyond Bulls & Bears

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Last week was unsteady for equity markets with much of the focus on inflation data out of the United States and China. A further easing of restrictions in parts of the UK and Europe will help build the recovery.

Quick Thoughts: Blockchain Innovates and Disrupts
Alternatives

Quick Thoughts: Blockchain Innovates and Disrupts

Blockchain has the potential to launch a new global digital renaissance, transforming financial services, supply chains, healthcare, backend offices, and more.

Climate Change Sectors Heat Up
Equity

Climate Change Sectors Heat Up

Templeton Global Equity Group peels back the multiple layers of the investible climate change universe, and considers how companies can contribute to reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.

Reasons We Remain Bullish on Gold
Equity

Reasons We Remain Bullish on Gold

While gold is valued for a variety of reasons, the uncertainty and economic fallout tied to the COVID-19 pandemic saw investment drive the price of the yellow metal to record highs in 2020. Equities related to the sector also saw solid investor interest, but as optimism around an economic recovery has grown, gold has lost some lustre thus far in 2021. Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Manager Steve Land discusses why gold demand could rebound from a weak start to the year, and where he sees potential opportunities for equity investors.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Global equities traded marginally lower last week, with much of the focus at a company level as first quarter (Q1) earnings season progresses. Despite strong earnings and record beats, there was lacklustre price action, with significant divergence in each region.

High Yield Bonds in View: Energy
Fixed Income

High Yield Bonds in View: Energy

Much has changed since the oil-market collapse in the early pandemic days of 2020, when prices actually turned negative. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Research Analyst/Portfolio Manager Bryant Dieffenbacher looks back at industry developments since then, and outlines opportunities he sees in the high-yield energy bond market today.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Equities globally were lackluster last week, with Europe underperforming amid a position-driven selloff. Outside of the obvious continuing focus on the pandemic and vaccine rollouts, there was little in the way of broad market themes, which in turn saw focus shifting to technical factors and company specifics amidst the first-quarter earnings season.

Quick Thoughts: Why Our Managers Disagree on Inflation, Rates, and Growth
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Why Our Managers Disagree on Inflation, Rates, and Growth

Multiple leadership and diverse views steer how we invest in our global economy. Our recent macroeconomic investment roundtable with three of our autonomous investment managers found commonalities and disagreements on the path for global economic growth. All agreed that global growth will be significant this year, but there is some disagreement as to how persistent it will be. Our Chief Market Strategist Stephen Dover believes when thinking about fixed income investing, it is important to think beyond rising interest rates and focus on the many ways to obtain total return.

On My Mind: A Tale of Two Recoveries
Fixed Income

On My Mind: A Tale of Two Recoveries

While a global recovery has now become the base case for financial markets, differences between countries and regions on the path toward normalcy are significant and seem set to widen. In the latest edition of our Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai’s “On My Mind” series, she evaluates the differences in policy decisions, both on the fiscal front as well as in vaccination campaigns, and how the resulting differing paths will shape the map of investment opportunities.

PODCAST: Anatomy of a Recession: Expecting an Economic Boom
Equity

PODCAST: Anatomy of a Recession: Expecting an Economic Boom

Jeff Schulze, investment strategist at ClearBridge Investments, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton, discusses why expectations for gross domestic product growth in the United States are soaring, how high the 10-year Treasury could rise, and why not to fear inflation long term.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

The spread of COVID-19 infections in continental Europe and how governments are managing it continues to contribute heavily to the market push and pull we’ve seen in recent weeks and months.

Biotech Innovations Remain at Forefront
Equity

Biotech Innovations Remain at Forefront

The first quarter of 2021 was challenging for investors in biotechnology, but Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Managers Evan McCulloch, Wendy Lam and Akiva Felt believe the second half of the year will likely bring welcome tailwinds for the industry. They offer an update on investment opportunities they see, and why they believe biotech companies will remain at the forefront through the pandemic period and beyond.