Beyond Bulls & Bears

Getting personal: Mind the benefits gap
Education

Getting personal: Mind the benefits gap

Educating workers about workplace benefits is vital to employee retention, according to findings from Franklin Templeton’s 2024 “Voice of the American Workplace” survey. Our Jacque Reardon shares findings from the survey related to what employees want—and how employers can meet these needs to benefit both parties.

Quick Thoughts: Checking the CIO pulse
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Checking the CIO pulse

So far this year, the US equity market has shown remarkable resilience and US inflation has remained sticky. Against this backdrop, a recent survey of our chief investment officers offers analyses and perspectives on key areas, such as Federal Reserve rate cut expectations, geopolitical risks, uncertain corporate earnings and opportunities in different asset classes.

A story about the drongo, the meerkat and debt markets
Alternatives

A story about the drongo, the meerkat and debt markets

A look at private credit, and why increased activity in the broadly syndicated loans space is not necessarily a bad thing for direct lending, and vice versa, from Benefit Street Partners Managing Director Anant Kumar.

PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: What’s different about this cycle?
Alternatives

PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: What’s different about this cycle?

Jeff Schulze, Head of Economic and Market Strategy at ClearBridge Investments, joins us to discuss the updated ClearBridge Recession Risk Dashboard, which has seen some progress underneath the surface despite not having any indicator changes. And, he shares his views on US equities and the impact of the Magnificent Seven.

Flash Insights: March inflation—Yet another reason to delay easing
Fixed Income

Flash Insights: March inflation—Yet another reason to delay easing

March US consumer prices rose faster than expected. The reacceleration in supercore inflation suggests the strong inflation readings at the start of the year may not have been mere blips. Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Economist Nikhil Mohan expects the Federal Reserve will likely begin rate cuts in September, but inflation trends may affect the timing of the cuts.

Springtime for Japanese stocks
Equity

Springtime for Japanese stocks

The Japanese economy and stock market are turning a corner after decades of disappointment. Mutual Series believes finding the companies that are truly embracing reform could prove crucial in uncovering and unlocking tremendous value over the next few years.

Alternative Allocations: Evaluating alternatives
Alternatives

Alternative Allocations: Evaluating alternatives

In the latest edition of “Alternative Allocations,” Patrick McGowan of Sanctuary Wealth Management joins Franklin Templeton’s Tony Davidow to discuss advisor adoption, structural tradeoffs, due diligence and the increasing demand for alternatives.

Japan ends its negative interest-rate policy
Equity

Japan ends its negative interest-rate policy

After many years of low and negative interest rates, the Bank of Japan has changed course, creating opportunities for Japanese investors and implications for global markets. Templeton Global Investments outlines the positives and the risks.

Quick Thoughts: Do elections matter for markets?
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Do elections matter for markets?

The upcoming US presidential elections transcend mere political rivalry. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Institute, examines the policy differences between the major parties and their potential implications on capital markets in the years to come. He also discusses whether elections and their outcomes have significantly affected equity markets or if other factors made more of an impact.

Sharpen your pencils—It’s budget season
Fixed Income

Sharpen your pencils—It’s budget season

State budget offices and municipal bond analysts evaluate the economic and fiscal outlook for the next fiscal year. In this document, we examine how California, New York and Illinois have different budget situations and how they plan to balance their budgets using various tools.

On My Mind: Fed Chair Powell—I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Fed Chair Powell—I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…

Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai believes that the Fed's March policy meeting was not as dovish as some commentators and market participants have claimed, and that the Fed is still pragmatic and cautious about inflation and rate cuts. In her view, getting inflation down to 2% will be harder and take longer than Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expects, and she predicts that rate cuts will come only later—in the second half of the year.