Every Third Friday | ETF monthly talks by Franklin Templeton

This month, we focus on how investors can manage a market environment shaped by geopolitical tension and rising uncertainty. We begin with the evolving situation in Iran and its implications for global stability, from oil price volatility to the uneven impact on regional and global markets. In the first part, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs,...

This month we move from the market backdrop to real-world portfolio building. We start in the U.S., where earnings season has sharpened the picture on fundamentals, with tech still leading and signs of market leadership broadening beyond the mega-caps. We also unpack the themes shaping sentiment, from debt-financed AI capex to the “SaaSpocalypse” narrative after a sharp correction in parts of the...

Every Third Friday is back with a new episode and Franklin Templeton’s global perspective on ETFs. We open 2026 in a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment. From unexpected developments in Venezuela to the quieter but deeply structural changes underway in Saudi Arabia, headlines are once again driving market sentiment. But for investors, the real signals often lie elsewhere. In this episode, we...

For this month of December, as we conclude an eventful 2025, we present a final wrap-up of a year that has rewritten the rules of global markets. Marcus Weyerer, CFA and Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton, will guide us through a financial year-in-review based on the "rule of three" to analyze what worked and what lies ahead. We will revisit the volatility shocks that c...

This month, as anticipated in the last episode, we will focus on the opportunities related to small and mid companies, with a look at the US market that goes beyond the Magnificent Seven. Indeed, after a period of market dominance by mega-cap companies, the question arises spontaneously: is it time to look beyond the S&P 500?The answer comes this November from  Marcus Weyerer , CFA, Director o...

This month, we’re focusing on the U.S. equity market. While we’ve certainly seen some volatility earlier this year, equities have shown resilience, and investors have largely treated market dips as buying opportunities. Under the surface, valuations appear healthier, capital spending is rising year-on-year, and an expected interest rate cutting cycle supports growth prospects. Joining us is Marcus...

September brought fresh turbulence to global markets: weaker US jobs data fueled expectations of faster Fed cuts, while Europe faced renewed debt concerns after France’s downgrade. Against this backdrop, China is sending mixed but striking signals—GDP growth revised higher, a 90-day tariff truce with the US, and equity markets rallying both onshore and offshore. Yet questions remain: can innovatio...

The market never stops amazing us—just as the S&P 500 hits new highs, behind the scenes, Washington and Brussels rewrite the rules of global trade in real time. Tariffs snap into place. Sanctions loom. And investors? They’re left wondering: Is this rally built to last, or are we dancing on a volcano? Today’s episode is all about connecting the dots between geopolitics, record-breaking markets,...

This month’s geopolitical whirlwind isn’t just noise—it’s a stress test for portfolios. We could say that it's no news, but investors are starting to worry. To decode what this means, both in the short term and beyond, we'll speak with three experts who will help us navigate the market. First, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, will unpack the...

This month, the world served up a geopolitical whirlwind. We could say that it is no news. As tensions rise, the US-China tariff battle is far from over. With the clock ticking towards July 9th, when all tariffs are set to be unveiled, the global economic landscape is bracing for the impact of these critical decisions. But it’s not just trade wars—regional security is heating up as well. We’ll als...

This month uncertainty was, once again, the main character in the market. Even if Trump opened the possibility to discuss tariffs with China, accepting a pause for the next ninenty days and debating the possibility of reducing US duties by a further 20% if there will be a significant reductions in the flow of fentanyl into the States, emerging markets are sending mixed signals : India’s stock mark...

Over the past few weeks, political headlines have once again thrown financial markets off balance —this time, reacting sharply to President Trump’s so-called 'Liberation Day' comments and the escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. After months where investors had priced a 'Goldilocks' scenario with steady growth, tame inflation, and a Fed on hold, now, reality is setting in. But the...

Matilde Sperlinga, We Wealth's journalist, presents the new ETF podcast in partnership with Franklin Templeton