Beyond Bulls & Bears

Revisiting Corporate Credit amidst Market Volatility
Multi-Asset

Revisiting Corporate Credit amidst Market Volatility

“We are seeing firsthand how thriving corporate profitability has supported select corporate bonds at the fundamental level, seemingly in defiance of more aggressive US Federal Reserve policy and political and geopolitical challenges.” – Ed Perks, CIO of Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions

Brexit: Are Markets Underestimating the Chances of the UK Not Leaving?
Equity

Brexit: Are Markets Underestimating the Chances of the UK Not Leaving?

“Given the institutional hurdles to an agreement in the necessary timescale, we don’t see the relatively benign soft Brexit scenario as the most likely outcome. Our view is that the position is much more finely balanced and perhaps there is an equal probability of a range of different outcomes.” - Sandy Nairn, Templeton Global Equity Group

Third Quarter Hedge-Fund Strategy Outlook: K2 Advisors
Alternatives

Third Quarter Hedge-Fund Strategy Outlook: K2 Advisors

“While things remain relatively tranquil on the surface, macroeconomic concerns―including geopolitical hot spots, growing political uncertainty in Europe, trade wars and major central bank policy divergence—all pose legitimate problems for market stability. In addition, perhaps one the most overlooked concerns today is the threat of continued rising interest rates in the United States.” - K2 Advisors, July 25, 2018.

Global Economic Perspective: July
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: July

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group examines the potential market impact of ongoing trade issues. Could it derail global growth?

Sukuk’s Journey into the Financial Mainstream
Fixed Income

Sukuk’s Journey into the Financial Mainstream

"We consider global sukuk to be a misunderstood asset class. Misconceptions to which sukuk is often subject to include assumptions that sukuk is susceptible to the headline risk associated with oil price volatility, or that it is solely concentrated in a few geographies.” - Dino Kronfol, chief investment officer, Franklin Templeton Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income Strategies

Hasenstab: How AMLO and Mexico Can Avoid a Populist Fate
Fixed Income

Hasenstab: How AMLO and Mexico Can Avoid a Populist Fate

“While Mexico’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has shown some populist impulses, such as expanding pension benefits or broadly handing out scholarships, his team appears aware of the pitfalls that often await governments that disrupt confidence in their country’s financial markets.” - Michael Hasenstab

Perspectives on Disruption
Equity

Perspectives on Disruption

“In recent years, we’ve seen a number of developments that suggest investors should rethink what they thought they knew. Countless reports have focused on how new technologies, such as self-driving cars, will disrupt global industries. Yet, some disruptions outside the domain of technology get much less attention." – Stephen Dover, Franklin Templeton Investments

Convertible Securities: a Versatile Asset Class
Equity

Convertible Securities: a Versatile Asset Class

“Given the run we’ve seen in the US equity market over the past few years, many investors may be concerned about stock valuations and their equity exposures. In this environment, some investors may want to consider select exposure to convertible securities.” – Alan Muschott, Franklin Equity Group

Fixed Income ETFs: Democratising Price Discovery for Investors
ETFs

Fixed Income ETFs: Democratising Price Discovery for Investors

“The evolution of ETFs, particularly in the fixed income arena, can offer even retail investors access to a market with the same price discovery/transparency as their institutional counterparts.” – Jason Xavier, head of EMEA ETF Capital Markets

Michael Hasenstab: An Update on our Global Markets Resilience Scores
Fixed Income

Michael Hasenstab: An Update on our Global Markets Resilience Scores

Templeton Global Macro makes a compelling case that finding attractive opportunities in emerging markets lies in distinguishing the more resilient countries from the rest. Here, CIO Michael Hasenstab provides an update of the team’s proprietary “Local Markets Resiliency Index” and highlights the scores of seven different countries—Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia and South Africa.

The Electrifying Outlook for Metals Demand
Equity

The Electrifying Outlook for Metals Demand

“Overall, we see a positive backdrop developing over the next decade for metals tied to the global roll-out of electric vehicles, and see opportunity in natural resource companies with exposure to the key building blocks of an electrified future.” – Steve Land, Franklin Equity Group