20 MAY 2026
Key Convictions: Second quarter 2026
In this second quarter update, Western Asset believes global fixed-income markets face a more complex backdrop as geopolitics, rapid AI adoption and private credit scrutiny intersect.
Stable, consistent, and reliable. Sounds boring?
Bonds are sometimes referred to as "boring" investments due to their relatively stable nature compared to other investment options like stocks or commodities. While the term "boring" might sound negative, there are several reasons why this relative stability can be seen as a positive attribute for investors. A reliable income from fixed income investments can help smooth out the overall returns of the portfolio and provide a stable cash flow. Including fixed income in a portfolio can add diversification benefits. It can provide a cushion during turbulent market conditions and could help maintain portfolio stability.
Franklin Templeton’s Fixed Income Investment Capabilities
Unrivalled experience, unmatched global breadth and depth, and unparalleled innovation have put Franklin Templeton at the forefront of fixed income investing for more than 50 years. We understand client challenges and are here to help with long-term fixed income goals. We have a strong track record of navigating market cycles and creating value.
Strategies to address investor needs
- Provide clients with a comprehensive range of investment strategies.
- Multi-sector, unconstrained, country, and sector strategies.
- Managed by our specialist investment managers.
Grounded in active management
- We believe active management can help generate attractive returns and potentially reduce volatility over the long-term.
- Robust research guides our investment decisions to help deliver outcomes that meet client needs.
Global expertise
- Over 50 years of experience successfully navigating fixed income markets and varying market environments.
- We have multiple, well-defined investment processes rooted in fundamental research, discipline and experience.
Four Fixed Income teams with deep sector strength
Our independent specialist managers provide deep expertise and specialization within and across asset classes, investment styles, and geographies.
Franklin Templeton Fixed Income
Believes the best way to pursue alpha is by integrating top-down macroeconomic analysis with robust bottom-up fundamental sector research and quantitative science.
Multi-Sector > Multi-sector bond strategies typically aim to capture the income, return potential and diversification benefits offered by credit markets worldwide. This universe can include investment-grade and high-yield corporate credit, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, emerging market debt, bank loans and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).
Unconstrained > Unconstrained (now called Non-Traditional) - An unconstrained strategy seeks to separate duration and credit exposure in seeking to increase risk-adjusted returns by leveraging an extended toolkit including regular bonds and derivatives, used to establish negative exposure to rates, while maintaining positive exposure to credit. It doesn’t require the portfolio manager to track an index or benchmark.
Credit > Credit – Also known as corporate strategies, are issued by companies for a wide variety of purposes, including buying new equipment, investing in research and development and buying back their own stock, just to name a few. Credit rating agencies assign credit ratings based on their evaluation of the risk that the company may default on its bonds. Based on their credit ratings, bonds can be either investment grade or non-investment grade.
Country > Country strategy: investment approach that focuses on constructing a portfolio of fixed income securities based on the analysis and evaluation of countries' economic and political factors. This strategy aims to capitalize on opportunities and manage risks associated with investing in bonds issued by different countries.
In a fixed income country strategy, investment decisions are primarily driven by the assessment of a country's macroeconomic indicators, monetary policy, fiscal stability, geopolitical factors, and other relevant factors that can influence the creditworthiness and performance of a country's debt securities.
In a fixed income country strategy, investment decisions are primarily driven by the assessment of a country's macroeconomic indicators, monetary policy, fiscal stability, geopolitical factors, and other relevant factors that can influence the creditworthiness and performance of a country's debt securities.
Research-intensive, fundamentals-based, high-conviction approach to capitalize on short-term inefficiencies and capture long-term value across global interest rate, currency, and credit markets.
Unconstrained > Unconstrained (now called Non-Traditional) - An unconstrained strategy seeks to separate duration and credit exposure in seeking to increase risk-adjusted returns by leveraging an extended toolkit including regular bonds and derivatives, used to establish negative exposure to rates, while maintaining positive exposure to credit. It doesn’t require the portfolio manager to track an index or benchmark.
Known for team management and proprietary research, supported by robust risk management and a long-term fundamental value approach.
Multi-Sector > Multi-sector bond strategies typically aim to capture the income, return potential and diversification benefits offered by credit markets worldwide. This universe can include investment-grade and high-yield corporate credit, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, emerging market debt, bank loans and collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).
Unconstrained > Unconstrained (now called Non-Traditional) - An unconstrained strategy seeks to separate duration and credit exposure in seeking to increase risk-adjusted returns by leveraging an extended toolkit including regular bonds and derivatives, used to establish negative exposure to rates, while maintaining positive exposure to credit. It doesn’t require the portfolio manager to track an index or benchmark.
Credit > Credit – Also known as corporate strategies, are issued by companies for a wide variety of purposes, including buying new equipment, investing in research and development and buying back their own stock, just to name a few. Credit rating agencies assign credit ratings based on their evaluation of the risk that the company may default on its bonds. Based on their credit ratings, bonds can be either investment grade or non-investment grade.
Country > Country strategy: investment approach that focuses on constructing a portfolio of fixed income securities based on the analysis and evaluation of countries' economic and political factors. This strategy aims to capitalize on opportunities and manage risks associated with investing in bonds issued by different countries.
In a fixed income country strategy, investment decisions are primarily driven by the assessment of a country's macroeconomic indicators, monetary policy, fiscal stability, geopolitical factors, and other relevant factors that can influence the creditworthiness and performance of a country's debt securities.
In a fixed income country strategy, investment decisions are primarily driven by the assessment of a country's macroeconomic indicators, monetary policy, fiscal stability, geopolitical factors, and other relevant factors that can influence the creditworthiness and performance of a country's debt securities.
Glossary
Credit: An alternative name for fixed income securities.
Alpha: A term used in investing to describe an investment strategy's ability to beat the market.
Duration: A measure of a fixed income portfolio or bond's price sensitivity to interest rate changes.
Bottom up investing: An investment approach that analyzes individual stocks while deemphasizing the significance of macroeconomic and market cycles.
Featured Funds
FTGF Brandywine Global Income Optimiser Fund*
An all-weather global bond fund that seeks attractive income generation while guarding against downside risks.
FTGF Western Asset Short Duration Blue Chip Bond Fund*
Aims to achieve income and growth of the fund's value. The fund invests mainly in higher rated corporate bonds issued in certain developed countries.
* A sub-fund of Franklin Templeton Global Funds plc (“FTGF plc”), FTGF is an open-ended investment company with variable capital, organised as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). FTGF is authorised in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland.
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Important Legal Information
Investments entail risks, the value of investments can go down as well as up and investors should be aware they might not get back the full value invested. There is no guarantee that the funds will achieve its objective over this or any other time period. Capital invested is at risk and you may get back less than you paid in.
