Beyond Bulls & Bears

Notes from the Trading Desk: Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk: Europe

The ECB will be a key focus on Thursday as it considers accelerating the pace of interest-rate hikes. The market is placing about a 70% probability on a 75-basis-point increase, which would be the ECB’s single biggest hike since its inception. Sticking with Europe the energy crisis will remain front and centre given the Nord Stream 1 shut down. Markets will also be watching German Industrial Production data, out on Wednesday.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Last week was another tough one for European equities, and the euro traded through parity versus the US dollar for much of the week given the gloomy economic backdrop. In addition, we saw a late selloff on Friday following Powell’s Jackson Hole speech. It is worth noting that volumes remained low.

PODCAST: Investing in innovation–impacts of market volatility and shocks
Equity

PODCAST: Investing in innovation–impacts of market volatility and shocks

Franklin Equity Group’s Renee Anderson and Matt Moberg cover investing in innovation during market volatility. We hear how business fundamentals and valuations look right now. Plus, from electric vehicles and renewable energy, to the metaverse, blockchain and more—a breakdown of which innovation themes have the most upside and challenges.

Inflation hedges: Fact and fantasy
Multi-Asset

Inflation hedges: Fact and fantasy

Equity markets have clearly taken notice of rising inflation—and not in a good way. Here, Gene Podkaminer and Chris Ratkovsky of Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions explore how different investments have performed during various inflation scenarios, which strategies or asset classes might provide an inflation hedge, and whether a “soft landing” economic scenario is possible.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Despite the strength in the market overall, a number of headwinds persist for European corporates, and one area of focus is the Rhine river water level, which continues to drop. This could have the potential to restrict the transportation of goods through central Europe, at a time when the continent is already suffering the worst energy crisis in decades.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Geopolitical tensions between Russia and Europe remain heightened, with gas supplies restricted by Russia’s political posturing. Meanwhile, US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has caused some shockwaves and signalled a deterioration in US-China relations.

PODCAST: Increasing yields, strategy shifts for income investors
Multi-Asset

PODCAST: Increasing yields, strategy shifts for income investors

Rapidly changing economic and market conditions could lead to a shift in strategy for income investors. Ed Perks, chief investment officer of Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, breaks down the macro environment and shares the fixed income sectors he believes are now attractive, in this conversation with our Josh Greco. 

US equities: Opportunities amid turbulence
Equity

US equities: Opportunities amid turbulence

Franklin Equity Group Portfolio Manager Grant Bowers shares his outlook on inflation and recessionary risks and where he’s finding opportunities in US equities amid recent market volatility.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Last week saw a strong end to the month, which helped many equity indices claw back some of the first half of year losses and have their best monthly performance for some time. There was a glut of corporate earnings and some better-than-expected results from index heavyweights in the United States helped sentiment.

Investing in infrastructure: Why now?
Alternatives

Investing in infrastructure: Why now?

Infrastructure has recently seen increased attention as broad equities have been weaker in 2022 due to inflation, rising interest rates, global supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Shane Hurst, Portfolio Manager with ClearBridge Investments, discusses the opportunities and potential income benefits for investors in the space today.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

European equity markets proved resilient last week despite a larger-than-expected ECB rate hike, weak macro data and regional political uncertainty (Italy and United Kingdom). Sentiment was helped somewhat by Russia resuming gas flow via Nord Stream 1 following a maintenance shutdown and some reassuring US corporate earnings.

Opportunities in UK small- and mid-cap equities
Equity

Opportunities in UK small- and mid-cap equities

Despite recent underperformance of small- and mid-cap UK equities, Martin Currie UK Equity Team’s Richard Bullas and Dan Green share reasons to be optimistic about the long term. They also discuss where they are finding opportunities and the qualities of companies to look for.