Beyond Bulls & Bears

2024 municipal bond market outlook: Increased optimism for the year ahead
Fixed Income

2024 municipal bond market outlook: Increased optimism for the year ahead

A year of significant monetary policy tightening is coming to a close, making Franklin Templeton Fixed Income optimistic about muni bonds in the year ahead. Get the team’s 2024 muni-bond outlook.

On My Mind: Miracle on 20th Street
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Miracle on 20th Street

Markets cheered a “dovish” December Federal Reserve meeting, seen as an early gift to investors. But has the battle against inflation been won? Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai weighs in.

Growing green: Cultivating a sustainable future through an ecosystem service valuation
Fixed Income

Growing green: Cultivating a sustainable future through an ecosystem service valuation

The Franklin Templeton Fixed Income team believes that sustainable investing will be a dominant investment trend in the coming years, with structural tailwinds that could help improve financial returns.

Discovering sources of alpha and diversification in fixed income
Fixed Income

Discovering sources of alpha and diversification in fixed income

In an economic environment characterized by rising interest rates and a forecasted slowdown, the fixed income asset class has emerged as a beacon of opportunity. Recently, Katie Klingensmith, Senior Vice President – Investment Strategist at Brandywine Global, moderated a panel of fixed income portfolio managers to explore these opportunities, discuss strategies to generate alpha and share their outlook as we approach the end of the year. Here are her key takeaways from this conversation.

Portfolio construction for alpha generation and risk mitigation
Fixed Income

Portfolio construction for alpha generation and risk mitigation

In this period of higher interest rates, the quest to capture alpha and mitigate risk in corporate credit requires a more refined approach. Josh Lohmeier of Franklin Templeton Fixed Income uncovers a dynamic portfolio construction process that is adaptable to various kinds of investors and repeatable in different types of environments.

Sustainable Resource Nexus: Analyzing the convergence of food-water-energy on financial markets
Fixed Income

Sustainable Resource Nexus: Analyzing the convergence of food-water-energy on financial markets

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Ashley Allen and Bryant Dieffenbacher discuss sustainable investing and what the convergence of food, water and energy means for investors.

Quick Thoughts: Investment Ideas—Is the Muni Comeback Still in the Making?
Fixed Income

Quick Thoughts: Investment Ideas—Is the Muni Comeback Still in the Making?

Making the case for municipal bonds today with Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute.

What’s next for gilts and the United Kingdom?
Fixed Income

What’s next for gilts and the United Kingdom?

Gilt prices have been struggling this past year due to surging inflation and interest-rate increases. David Zahn, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Head of European Fixed Income, shares his outlook for the UK economy and why he thinks now is a good time to consider investing in gilts.

Stress testing the foundations: Analyzing the vulnerability of US banks to falling commercial real estate values
Fixed Income

Stress testing the foundations: Analyzing the vulnerability of US banks to falling commercial real estate values

The commercial real estate sector’s continued challenges could potentially impact US banks. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Shawn Lyons discusses the ongoing commercial real estate crisis and how US banks are safeguarding themselves against these issues.

On My Mind: Restrictive? We’ll know it when we see it.
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Restrictive? We’ll know it when we see it.

The Fed sent a strong signal that interest rates will remain higher for longer, as our Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai has long predicted. The Fed also started to acknowledge that the natural real rate of interest is higher than it thought. She shares her latest insights on the policy outlook and the implications for investors.

Opportunity in investment-grade credit
Fixed Income

Opportunity in investment-grade credit

Investment-grade credit is currently offering impressive yields, with relatively less risk than other fixed income sectors, according to Josh Lohmeier of Franklin Templeton Fixed Income. He makes a case for investing in the space today.

Weathering the storm: Exploring climate change adaptation and the investor’s imperative
Fixed Income

Weathering the storm: Exploring climate change adaptation and the investor’s imperative

The Franklin Templeton Fixed Income team believe that issuers that think critically about the environment in which they operate could outperform throughout the full market cycle compared with those who are slower to adapt.