Beyond Bulls & Bears

Quick Thoughts: What Russia’s Power Play in Ukraine Means for Investors
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: What Russia’s Power Play in Ukraine Means for Investors

We recently hosted a special edition of our “What Our Managers Think” panel discussion to address the current situation in Ukraine. Participants included Kim Catechis, Investment Strategist for the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, Scott Glasser, Chief Investment Officer at ClearBridge Investments, Dr. Michael Hasenstab, Chief Investment Officer at Templeton Global Macro, and Dr. Andreas Billmeier, European Economist for Western Asset.

Quick Thoughts: Ukraine, Russia, and the Path Forward
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Ukraine, Russia, and the Path Forward

Kim Catechis, Investment Strategist for the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently shared his thoughts around the situation in Ukraine and the implications for the global economy and capital markets. Here are some highlights of his views.

Quick Thoughts: On the US Markets and Volatility
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: On the US Markets and Volatility

With rising inflation, interest rate hikes, declining global growth, and geopolitical tensions around the world, it is not surprising market volatility has been surging. What should investors expect going forward? This past week Stephen Dover discussed these topics and more with colleagues Scott Glasser, Chief Investment Officer of ClearBridge Investments, and Mark Lindbloom, Portfolio Manager for Western Asset.

Quick Thoughts: The Inflation Debate
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: The Inflation Debate

Disagreements about the outlook for inflation in the new year and beyond continue. Stephen Dover, Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently led a lively debate on the topic with Western Asset’s John Bellows and Franklin Templeton Fixed Income’s Sonal Desai.

Quick Thoughts: What Our Managers Think: Positioning Portfolios for 2022
Multi-Asset

Quick Thoughts: What Our Managers Think: Positioning Portfolios for 2022

Stephen Dover, Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently discussed growth, inflation, interest rates, and valuation during our monthly discussion, “What Our Managers Think,” with Ed Perks, Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions; Gene Podkaminer, Head of Research; and Josh Greco, Head of Institutional Portfolio Management. Below are some of their current views on positioning portfolios for 2022.

Quick Thoughts: What Our Managers Think: Do Growth or Value Stocks Have the Upper Hand?
Equity

Quick Thoughts: What Our Managers Think: Do Growth or Value Stocks Have the Upper Hand?

While “growth” and “value” have typically been seen as distinct styles, that type of thinking continues to evolve, according to our investment professionals. For Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, the real issue is how to invest where you are best rewarded.

Quick Thoughts: Inflation, Debt, and Changing Economic Sweet Spots
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Inflation, Debt, and Changing Economic Sweet Spots

Investors need a more flexible, opportunistic approach to investing, given the current low interest rate environment with the likelihood of interest rates rising over the next few years, according to Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Investment Institute. He opines on inflation, debt, and changing economic sweet spots.

PODCAST: Mounting Variables Globally
Fixed Income

PODCAST: Mounting Variables Globally

Templeton Global Macro CIO Michael Hasenstab and Director of Global Macro Research for Brandywine Global, Francis Scotland, speak with our Stephen Dover about the direction of China, variables that could determine whether labor and inflation concerns will last more long term, what may be driving energy prices up, beyond just supply and demand, and views on the US dollar vs other currencies around the world.

Quick Thoughts: The Connection Between Climate Change and Geopolitics
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: The Connection Between Climate Change and Geopolitics

Successful international investing includes measuring financial risks and rewards caused by events in an affected country. Stephen Dover, Head of Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, discusses how macroeconomic and political research complemented by environmental, social and governance (ESG) research provides investors additional prisms to view a country’s financials, impacts on climate change, and geopolitical risk.

Quick Thoughts: Debating the Next Moves for Inflation, Growth, and Rates
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Debating the Next Moves for Inflation, Growth, and Rates

Rising inflation globally raises the question of whether inflation is persistent versus transitory, driving debate among our investment managers. Our Stephen Dover, Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, recently discussed economic growth, interest rates, and inflation during a roundtable, “What Our Managers Think: Debating the Next Moves for Inflation, Growth, and Rates,” with Sonal Desai, Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income; John Bellows, Ph.D., Portfolio Manager, Western Asset; and Gene Podkaminer, CFA, Head of Research, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. Below are some takeaway points.

Quick Thoughts: Diving into Debt, MMT, and Their Deep Water Waves
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Diving into Debt, MMT, and Their Deep Water Waves

After the first global pandemic in a century, growing pressures on sovereign balance sheets from stimuli in 2020-2021 and policy responses to the coming waves of debt—trends previously in place—have only accelerated. Our Stephen Dover, Head of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute, and Investment Strategist Kim Catechis, examine the debt wave that drives many of the economic policy discussions today.

Quick Thoughts: Innovation Builds Deep Water Technology Waves
Perspectives

Quick Thoughts: Innovation Builds Deep Water Technology Waves

The next decade will see an urgent and widespread boom in investments in innovation across all economic sectors, according to Stephen Dover and Kim Catechis of the Franklin Templeton Investment Institute. They say this technology wave will be experienced in both private and public sectors, and in every facet of investment portfolios for years to come. Below are some of their thoughts from the Institute’s Deep Water Waves paper.