Beyond Bulls & Bears

K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: Second quarter 2023
Alternatives

K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: Second quarter 2023

Given current market uncertainties, K2 Advisors remains defensive in terms of market outlook and beta positioning. Read the team’s latest hedge fund strategy outlook.

Quick Thoughts: From a deep dive into the banking sector
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: From a deep dive into the banking sector

Beyond the near-term turmoil, there may need to be a re-evaluation of the regional banking model in the United States, according to a recent panel hosted by Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Institute. The panel discussed the latest developments and investment implications—including a move to money market funds.

Quick Thoughts: Alternative investments outlook post-SVB
Alternatives

Quick Thoughts: Alternative investments outlook post-SVB

Silicon Valley Bank was a “vital cog” in the private market ecosystem, which leads to many questions—and opportunities—across the alternative investments landscape. Franklin Templeton Institute’s Stephen Dover offers his thoughts.

K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: First quarter 2023
Alternatives

K2 Hedge Fund Strategy Outlook: First quarter 2023

The first half of 2023 is looking volatile, presenting an opportunity for tactical managers focused on equity selection, according to K2 Advisors. Read the team’s latest outlook.

Fasten your seatbelts
Alternatives

Fasten your seatbelts

Benefit Street Partners explores how best to capitalize on the bumps that are creating the beginnings of another fertile special situations investment environment.

Alternative investments: The case for real estate
Alternatives

Alternative investments: The case for real estate

Public and private real estate investments present a compelling opportunity in the current environment of high inflation and rising interest rates, according to Daniel Scher and Blair Schmicker from Franklin Equity Group. They explain the potential diversification benefits of these alternative assets.

Quick thoughts: Read, write, own—how Web3 can restore trust in markets and society
Alternatives

Quick thoughts: Read, write, own—how Web3 can restore trust in markets and society

“Web1” represents static websites, and “Web2” represents the shift in the delivery of the internet to user-centric, dynamic web offerings and platforms. Head of Franklin Templeton Institute Stephen Dover offers some perspective at the dawn of “Web3.”

Quick thoughts: An expanding universe in a volatile world—A focus on private real estate and private credit
Alternatives

Quick thoughts: An expanding universe in a volatile world—A focus on private real estate and private credit

According to a recent webinar hosted by the Franklin Templeton Institute, private markets offer opportunities in the current challenging environment. Stephen Dover, head of Franklin Templeton Institute, shares his key takeaways from the webinar.

Real estate investment opportunities amid macro uncertainties
Alternatives

Real estate investment opportunities amid macro uncertainties

Macro uncertainties and tightening financial conditions are pressuring the real estate investment market. Tim Wang, Head of Investment Research for Clarion Partners, discusses the challenges and opportunities in this current environment.

K2 hedge fund strategy outlook: Fourth quarter 2022
Alternatives

K2 hedge fund strategy outlook: Fourth quarter 2022

From an investment standpoint, aggressive regime shifts like the current one often create price dislocations as allocators restructure their portfolios, according to K2 Advisors. Read the team’s latest outlook.

You are not first: Making the case for alternatives—particularly commercial real estate—in defined contribution plans
Alternatives

You are not first: Making the case for alternatives—particularly commercial real estate—in defined contribution plans

Despite widespread use in institutional portfolios, alternative investments are not typically found in US defined contribution plans. Drew Carrington, Head of Institutional Defined Contribution at Franklin Templeton, and Tripp Braillard, Head of Defined Contribution Distribution at Clarion Partners, explain why perhaps they should be.

Investing in infrastructure: Why now?
Alternatives

Investing in infrastructure: Why now?

Infrastructure has recently seen increased attention as broad equities have been weaker in 2022 due to inflation, rising interest rates, global supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Shane Hurst, Portfolio Manager with ClearBridge Investments, discusses the opportunities and potential income benefits for investors in the space today.