Beyond Bulls & Bears

Pinpointing Fixed Income Credit Risks
Fixed Income

Pinpointing Fixed Income Credit Risks

In this excerpt from the latest Franklin Templeton Thinks, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group examines how machine learning techniques can measure the risks of consumer and home loans—helping pinpoint credit risks they think are worth taking. They review digital loans, a relatively new asset class, and explain why quantitative approaches may be more applicable to some fixed income sectors than others.

Global Economic Perspective: October
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: October

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, our Fixed Income Group discusses whether optimism about the US economy is justified, and whether Italy’s budget talks could lead to looser fiscal policy elsewhere in the eurozone.

Global Economic Perspective: September
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: September

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, our Fixed Income Group discusses the spread of populism in Sweden, whether US economic momentum appears sustainable and what’s behind recent emerging-market woes.

Global Economic Perspective: August
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: August

“We think the ECB is wise to retain some flexibility over the timing of its transition to more conventional monetary policies. The central bank has voiced concerns over the impact of the Turkish crisis on some European lenders. Additionally, volatility can be exaggerated at this time of year.” – Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

Global Economic Perspective: July
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: July

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group examines the potential market impact of ongoing trade issues. Could it derail global growth?

Global Economic Perspective: June
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: June

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, our Fixed Income Group sees the broad outlook for the global economy as remaining positive but expects more patches of financial market volatility ahead.

Global Economic Perspective: May
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: May

In this month’s Global Economic Perspective, our Fixed Income Group opines on rising energy prices, US Treasury yields, emerging-market currency pressures and global economic growth.

The Disruption of Money
Perspectives

The Disruption of Money

While speculators have been flocking to virtual currencies with intense fervour, professional investors have largely taken a more cautious approach. Roger Bayston, senior vice president, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group; Austin Trombley, vice president and data scientist, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group; and Anthony Hardy, research analyst with Franklin Equity Group, recently took part in a panel discussion on the topic. They discuss how digital currencies work, how blockchain technology has the potential to impact many facets of our lives, and how they feel about the investment case for this rapidly changing space.

Global Economic Perspective: April
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: April

“The extent to which the global economy’s upturn is threatened by the uncertainty over trade policy is clearly the main issue preoccupying many investors. Our view is that market sentiment often swings to extremes in these circumstances, running well ahead of actual events, and the risk of a major disruption to global trade remains low.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

Global Economic Perspective: February
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: February

“The opening months of 2018 have seen volatility return to global financial markets, but we think it is important to stress US economic fundamentals have remained broadly the same. After an unusually long period of calm in many markets, the reappearance of volatility at some point seemed likely, even if the speed of market gyrations has been unsettling for investors.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

Global Economic Perspective: January
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: January

"Just as attempts to use historical precedents to predict the length and durability of the US economic cycle are undermined by the idiosyncratic nature of its recovery since the global financial crisis, much the same argument can be made about the wider global economy.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group

Global Economic Perspective: December
Fixed Income

Global Economic Perspective: December

“The pattern of a strong cyclical upturn in the global economy combined with subdued inflation looks set to continue for some time, in our view. Nevertheless, we believe increasing demand and a diminishing pool of labor are likely to create meaningful pricing pressures at some point.” - Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group