Beyond Bulls & Bears

Making the case for municipal bonds despite recent volatility
Fixed Income

Making the case for municipal bonds despite recent volatility

The first half of the year has so far been challenging for investors in municipal bonds. Ben Barber, Director, Municipal Bonds, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income, shares his latest outlook and reasons for optimism.

Reasons for optimism in UK equities
Equity

Reasons for optimism in UK equities

Despite concerns about rising interest rates, a growth slowdown and stock market volatility, there are reasons to be optimistic about the outlook for UK equities, according to Martin Currie’s Ben Russon. He shares the latest data counteracting the cost-of-living crisis, trends that exhibit the strength of the UK economy relative to the rest of the world, and where he sees opportunities in the UK stock market.

On my mind: Overdue reality check for Fed and markets has barely begun
Fixed Income

On my mind: Overdue reality check for Fed and markets has barely begun

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Chief Investment Officer Sonal Desai believes investors’ expectations that interest rates will not rise much may be very misguided.

Quick thoughts: Global Investor Forum 2022
Perspectives

Quick thoughts: Global Investor Forum 2022

The Franklin Templeton Institute hosted the Global Investor Forum last week in New York featuring internal and external speakers with expertise across economics, history, foreign policy, sustainability and investment management. Here are my key takeaways:

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Franklin Templeton’s Notes from the Trading Desk offers a weekly overview of what our professional traders and analysts are watching in the markets. The European desk is manned by eight professionals based in Edinburgh, Scotland, with an average of 15 years of experience whose job it is to monitor the markets around the world. Their views are theirs alone and are not intended to be construed as investment advice.

Drilling Down: Oil Production Scenarios Across Countries
Perspectives

Drilling Down: Oil Production Scenarios Across Countries

With economies scrambling for alternatives to Russian fossil fuels, Dina Ting, our Head of Global Index Portfolio Management, offers perspective on single-country portfolio exposure to other world oil producers.

Credit: This Time Is Different?
Fixed Income

Credit: This Time Is Different?

Credit market volatility this year has been extreme. The Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions team looks back at history to see what to expect from certain fixed income asset classes, noting that history may not repeat. They also examine the likelihood of recession and its possible severity.

PODCAST: Making Sense of the Recent Market Selloffs
Perspectives

PODCAST: Making Sense of the Recent Market Selloffs

Wylie Tollette, Head of Client Investment Solutions with Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, joins the head of the Franklin Templeton Institute, Stephen Dover, for a conversation on the recent equity market selloff. They discuss why the pendulum has shifted so strongly negative, whether there is any bottom in sight, and where investors looking for diversification could go.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Given recent declines, there is much discussion around what is priced into market. With global markets declining for six consecutive weeks, there is an increasing debate over how much bad news is priced in, and whether markets are now oversold.

The Great Wave of Yen Weakness
Equity

The Great Wave of Yen Weakness

A weaker Japanese yen is thought of as positive for Japanese businesses with a high degree of exports, but it may not necessarily be as beneficial as many think, according to Templeton Global Equity Group.

Managing Challenges in US Equity and Fixed Income Markets Today
Multi-Asset

Managing Challenges in US Equity and Fixed Income Markets Today

Coming out of the depths of the pandemic, US equity and fixed income markets are facing new challenges this year amidst a rising interest rate environment and deceleration in growth. With this changing backdrop, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions’ Ed Perks shares his latest outlook and the investment opportunities he sees across asset classes.

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe
Equity

Notes from the Trading Desk – Europe

Last week saw some extreme moves in equity markets as investors digested several central bank announcements, most notably the Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday. In Ukraine, the Russian advance in the east made marginal gains, and with no mention of peace talks anymore, a long, drawn-out campaign into the summer seems probable. The impact of this on commodity and food prices is clear.