Beyond Bulls & Bears

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Markets saw a remarkable rally in November as vaccine news gave us light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel and some uncertainty ended around the US election outcome.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Whilst the vaccine news means the picture looks much improved longer term, it will be 2021 before the majority see the benefits of them. In the meantime, COVID-19 figures remain bleak in Europe and the United States going into year-end.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Why Fixed Income Now
Fixed Income

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Why Fixed Income Now

With yields near zero, many investors may question the value of fixed income within a portfolio. Western Asset’s Head of Product Management, Doug Hulsey, joins our Head of Equities, Stephen Dover, to discuss fixed income investing with an active-management lens. He makes a case for the asset class for investors in light of market uncertainties and outlines where he sees opportunities today.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Neutral to Positive for Municipals
Fixed Income

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Neutral to Positive for Municipals

In coming years, US Congress and the Biden administration could implement spending programmes and tax reforms at the national level that trickle down into state and local government policies too. Our Katie Klingensmith joined Muni Bond Team Research Director Jennifer Johnston to discuss the potential implications for the municipal bond market, against a backdrop of COVID-19.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Last week was remarkable for global equity markets, as the potential for a successful COVID-19 vaccine to be available by spring 2021 drove stocks broadly higher.

Monitoring Biotech’s Race for a Vaccine
Equity

Monitoring Biotech’s Race for a Vaccine

Franklin Equity Group's Evan McCulloch and Wendy Lam give their take on when a COVID-19 vaccine could be available for public use.

On My Mind: Knowledge Drives Confidence, Confidence Drives Growth
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Knowledge Drives Confidence, Confidence Drives Growth

The Franklin Templeton–Gallup Economics of Recovery Study has heralded some interesting results in regard to the attitudes and behaviour of Americans in response to the ongoing pandemic—and what developments could change both. Our Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai shares her thoughts on the latest wave of survey findings, including the value of trusted advice in navigating financial and investment concerns.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Pandemic Reshaping Real Estate
Alternatives

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Pandemic Reshaping Real Estate

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted real estate in many ways, but the question for investors in the space is whether the changes it has instigated will be longer-lasting ones. Our Head of Equities Stephen Dover and David Gilbert, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Clarion Partners, discuss real estate trends today and which areas look more promising than others.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Policy and Pandemic Drive Macro View
Perspectives

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Policy and Pandemic Drive Macro View

We’ve seen aggressive government and central bank support to stimulate economies sickened from COVID-19 slowdowns, but will the global economy right itself in 2021? Templeton Global Macro CIO Michael Hasenstab and Francis Scotland, Director of Global Macro Research at Brandywine Global, share their macro outlook for the year ahead. They opine on whether the glass looks half empty or half full as the world eagerly awaits a vaccine and as US policies shift amid a change in administration.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Positive for Europe
Perspectives

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Positive for Europe

Global markets embraced the removal of uncertainty surrounding the US elections, and many European leaders in particular welcomed a renewed relationship with the world’s largest economy under President-elect Joe Biden. Our Katrina Dudley and David Zahn discuss the implications for European equities and fixed income of a new US administration, including the “green” agenda Europe has prioritised. They also touch on the impact of COVID-19 on the region and recent news of an effective vaccine.

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Time for Strategy Rotation
Alternatives

US 2020 Election Investment Pulse: Time for Strategy Rotation

Global equity markets rallied on Monday after major networks declared Joe Biden the winner of the US presidential election, and early analysis of a COVID-19 vaccine from a large US drugmaker showed promising results. Our Head of Equities Stephen Dover joined Brooks Ritchey of K2 Advisors to discuss what these two events could mean for certain commodity, currency, equity and fixed income markets, particularly in the United States and emerging markets. They also take a look at why “rotation” is the word of the week for many of K2’s hedge strategies.

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk—Europe

Joe Biden’s US presidential election victory was confirmed over the weekend, yet the likelihood that Congress will be split—with Republicans in control of the Senate—has buoyed markets.