Beyond Bulls & Bears

EU Delivers Comprehensive Fiscal Rescue Package
Fixed Income

EU Delivers Comprehensive Fiscal Rescue Package

The European Commission has unveiled a sweeping new €750 billion coronavirus fiscal rescue package, including the issuance of new bonds. David Zahn, our Head of European Fixed Income, calls it groundbreaking.

PODCAST: Investing in Innovation: Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis
Equity

PODCAST: Investing in Innovation: Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis

Franklin Equity Group’s Matt Moberg explores equity investing in the wake of the coronavirus—with an eye on innovation. In our latest "Talking Markets" podcast, he shares his outlook for the tech and biotech sectors in light of recent market uncertainty.

Fed Support Helps Stabilise MBS Market
Fixed Income

Fed Support Helps Stabilise MBS Market

Like most asset classes, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) have seen heightened volatility over the past two months as the world copes with COVID-19 and investors look to reduce risk. The MBS market managed to stabilise amid help from the US Federal Reserve, which purchased these and other securities in a broad support programme. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Paul Varunok offers his outlook for the MBS market in light of recent events.

Quick Thoughts: China’s Potential Continues
Equity

Quick Thoughts: China’s Potential Continues

China was the first economy to institute COVID-19 lockdowns, and has been the first to gradually exit. While the economy is certainly not back to normal, our Head of Equities, Stephen Dover, still sees potential growth opportunities there for investors.

PODCAST: What’s Next for Markets as Lockdowns Lift: A Multi-Asset View
Multi-Asset

PODCAST: What’s Next for Markets as Lockdowns Lift: A Multi-Asset View

With markets starting to make a comeback, our Multi-Asset Solutions CIO Ed Perks looks ahead to second half of the year, including the implications of  the US economy opening up, the ongoing impact of the massive monetary and fiscal response, and the risk for a wave of downgrades and defaults.

Meet the Manager: Sonal Desai
Fixed Income

Meet the Manager: Sonal Desai

Tending her family’s garden as a child, the seeds were planted for Sonal Desai to succeed in the world of finance and economics through hard work, attention to detail and a research-driven, scientific approach. Today, she leads Franklin Templeton’s Fixed Income team, and is particularly excited about the growth of quantitative science—and how it can complement fundamental analysis. Learn more about Desai.

European Fixed Income: Coming Out of Crisis
Fixed Income

European Fixed Income: Coming Out of Crisis

As European economies slowly start to come out of coronavirus lockdowns, it could be some time before growth returns to pre-crisis levels, according to David Zahn, our Head of European Fixed Income. He says the crisis has been another test for the European Union as the coronavirus has affected some countries moreso than others. But he sees this as perhaps the best time in years to invest in European fixed income.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Government lockdowns across some key markets have eased slightly in the last week, but concerns over the potential of a second wave of COVID-19 infections still persist. Meanwhile, ongoing US/China trade tensions look to remain a market driver.

Quick Thoughts: A New Globalisation Emerges
Equity

Quick Thoughts: A New Globalisation Emerges

Our Head of Equities Stephen Dover gives his take on the new globalisation, how the US Midwest may be the next emerging market, and what he thinks it means for strategic industries and supply chains.

Getting Back to Normal
Equity

Getting Back to Normal

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how global consumers learn, shop, travel and work, as well as how they fulfil entertainment and health care needs. Franklin Equity Group’s John Remmert and Donald Huber share which trends they think are permanent and which are likely just a phase.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Global equities generally ground higher last week as optimism grew that we may be through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Across Europe, there has been a very gradual loosening of lockdown measures as governments try to get economies moving.

On My Mind: Now Let’s Get Those Jobs Back
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Now Let’s Get Those Jobs Back

COVID-19 has taken a toll on human lives as well as the global economy, with the latest US employment figures revealing a shocking number of job losses in April. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai weighs in on the situation, saying the next few weeks will likely prove crucial in shaping the course of the labour market for the remainder of this year.