Beyond Bulls & Bears

Consider This: 2024 elections
Equity

Consider This: 2024 elections

Political risk is global in 2024: Franklin Templeton Institute’s Kim Catechis highlights key elections to watch across the world in the coming year.

Kim Catechis |
US economy: Ending 2023 on an unexpected high
Fixed Income

US economy: Ending 2023 on an unexpected high

US gross domestic product surprised to the upside in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily led by US consumers and the government. Franklin Fixed Income Economist Nikhil Mohan sees the growth mix remaining largely the same in 2024.

Nikhil Mohan |
ECB in little rush to cut rates
Fixed Income

ECB in little rush to cut rates

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged, without conveying any urgency to start cutting rates in the next few months. David Zahn, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Head of European Fixed Income, weighs in on the implications for investors—and why lengthening duration may make sense.

David Zahn, CFA, FRM |
Alternative Allocations: Alternative Investment Outlook
Alternatives

Alternative Allocations: Alternative Investment Outlook

Franklin Templeton’s Tony Davidow discusses the impact of various factors on traditional and alternative investments, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in private commercial real estate, private credit, and private equity.

Tony Davidow, CIMA® |
K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: First Quarter 2024
Alternatives

K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: First Quarter 2024

Interest rates in most parts of the world appear to be stabilizing, as inflation trends continue to decline from the high levels seen in the summer of 2022. Learn more about the implications for hedge fund strategies from K2 Advisors.

SECURE 2.0 creates new backdoor Roth opportunity
Education

SECURE 2.0 creates new backdoor Roth opportunity

Here’s a look at how a new legislative provision may be an opportunity to help jump-start retirement savings for children while saving for college at the same time.

Bill Cass, CFP®, CPWA® |
Unwrapping the good things that come in small (cap) packages
ETFs

Unwrapping the good things that come in small (cap) packages

The surge in small-cap stock performance in the final weeks of 2023 may signal a long-awaited turnaround for smaller companies that have lagged large-cap peers for a decade, according to Head of Global Index Portfolio Management Dina Ting. She analyzes the challenges small caps experienced in the past year and why she believes they now offer potentially attractive opportunities in 2024.

Dina Ting, CFA |
On My Mind: Catch me if you can—Markets outrun the Fed
Fixed Income

On My Mind: Catch me if you can—Markets outrun the Fed

The Federal Reserve has fueled market conviction that the good old days of extremely low interest rates and abundant liquidity are soon to return. Our Franklin Templeton Fixed Income CIO Sonal Desai sees this reaction as an excess of dovish enthusiasm that sets the stage for more volatility. She shares her latest insights on the policy outlook and the implications for investors.

Sonal Desai, Ph.D. |
PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: New year, new dynamic
Equity

PODCAST Anatomy of a Recession Update: New year, new dynamic

As 2024 kicks off, we sit down with ClearBridge Investment's Jeff Schulze for an update on the Recession Risk Dashboard that has recently seen some indicator moves from red to yellow and learn whether recent US economic and labor data have impacted his views on the likelihood of a soft landing.

Jeffrey Schulze, CFA |
Alternative Allocations: Opportunities in secondaries
Alternatives

Alternative Allocations: Opportunities in secondaries

In the latest episode of our Alternative Allocations podcast, Franklin Templeton Institute’s Tony Davidow discusses the secondaries market in private equities with Taylor Robinson, partner of Lexington Partners.

Tony Davidow, CIMA® |
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.

Ben Barber, CFA |
Ozempic can’t help your overweight in big tech: Global ETF diversification ideas for 2024
ETFs

Ozempic can’t help your overweight in big tech: Global ETF diversification ideas for 2024

The start of a new year brings a chance for reflection and re-evaluation. For investors, a chance to rebalance. Franklin Templeton ETFs’ Dina Ting and Marcus Weyerer highlight the pitfalls of overweight exposure to mega tech stocks and where in the world to look for diversification in 2024.

Dina Ting, CFA |