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, examines how investors have reacted to the crisis, why Brazil is emerging as an interesting defensive play, and what the latest European earnings season tells us about the region’s structural outlook.In the second part, Giancarlo Fragomeno, ETF Product Specialist at Franklin Templeton, turns to implementation, explaining the role active ETFs can play in today’s market landscape. He outlines how these strategies differ from traditional passive products and why they can offer investors a more flexible way to stay resilient in periods of heightened geopolitical risk and volatility. 

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 software space.In the first part, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, walks through the key market signals and connects them to the rapid rise of active ETFs.In the second part, Lisa Wang, CFA, Head of EMEA Investment Strategy at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, it down to portfolio level, explaining how to focus on “compensated” risks and use a disciplined core–satellite approach to stay close to the market while aiming to add value over time.

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 focus on how to look beyond geopolitical noise and reconnect investment decisions to economic fundamentals. As markets work to distinguish short-term shocks from long-term trends, global diversification and market dispersion are becoming increasingly central to portfolio construction.In the first part, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, analyzes recent geopolitical events and explains why earnings, fundamentals and the ongoing reporting season remain the true compass for investors navigating 2026.In the second part, Dina Ting, CFA, Head of Global Index Portfolio Management at Franklin Templeton ETFs, takes us into the evolving dynamics of global markets. With dispersion rising across regions, she discusses how country-specific ETF strategies can help investors identify opportunities as market leadership continues to shift.A conversation on how to stay disciplined, selective and globally diversified in an increasingly complex investment landscape.

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 challenged American exceptionalism and take a closer look at the year’s three top performers, exploring the reasons behind an all-Emerging podium. Finally, we will look forward to 2026 through three key outlooks, ranging from Fed independence to the search for tangible returns from Artificial Intelligence.Let's dive in!

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 of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, and Greg Herneman, Client Portfolio Manager at Clearbridge Investments. They will explain their view on the future performance of SMIDs and detail the benefits of diversification and an active approach, which may prove crucial in this current context.

This month, we’re focusing on the U.S. equity market. While we’ve certainly seensome volatility earlier this year, equities have shown resilience, and investors havelargely treated market dips as buying opportunities. Under the surface, valuationsappear healthier, capital spending is rising year-on-year, and an expected interestrate cutting cycle supports growth prospects.Joining us is Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment StrategyEMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, alongside ETF capital markets associate OliverHurditch, who will share insights from Franklin Templeton’s Capital Markets Desk,explain how ETF adoption and flows toward mega-cap names are shaping themarket. 

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 innovation in AI, semiconductors and rare earths keep powering the momentum, or will real estate stress and rising debt weigh it down? Since January, Chinese ETFs in Europe have already attracted more than $3 billion in flows, proof that investors are watching closely.In this episode, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategy EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, decodes the macro outlook, while Rafaelle Lennox, Head of UCITS ETF Product Strategy at Franklin Templeton, dives into A-shares, key market drivers, and the ETF strategies helping investors build efficient access to China today.Let’s dive in!

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, and the ETF strategies that can help you stay ahead. So, let’s find out what this means for investors, both in the short term and beyond.Joining me today are two experts who’ll help us navigate these market currents: first, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategist EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, will break down what these geopolitical shocks mean for your portfolio, beyond the headlines. Then, Caroline Baron, head of ETF Distribution - EMEA, will reveal where money is flowing in ETFs right now—and how to position yourself before volatility kicks in.  

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 latest market moves. Then, David Evans, ETF Product Specialist at Franklin Templeton, will spotlight how values-based investing could shape portfolios with our guest Alessandro Caffi, Head of Investments at the Italian Bishops Conference, representing the Catholic church and dioceses in Italy.

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 also be turning our focus to Israel's recent strikes on Iran, which add another layer of complexity to the Middle East’s volatile situation and were a game-changer, not because of oil prices that barely budget, but because it revealed markets now price geopolitics in seconds, not weeks. Yet, markets shrugged it off. Is this resilience or complacency? To decode what this means for investors—both in the short term and beyond we will talk with two experts who’ll help us navigate these market currents: first, Marcus Weyerer, CFA, Director of ETF Investment Strategist EMEA at Franklin Templeton ETFs, will unpack the latest moves analysing not only the situation in the middle est, but also in the emerging markets. Then, Raffaelle Lennox, Head of UCITS ETF Product Strategy at Franklin Templeton, will spotlight specific ETF opportunities emerging in this landscape. Let’s dive in!"