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Challenges and Change in Brazil
Brazils economy is grappling with some interesting challenges right now, such as shifts in monetary policy to cope with a possible economic slowdown and preparing to host two major events on the international stagethe 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the Olympics in 2016. Marco Freire, Franklin Templetons CIO, Brazil Fixed Income for the Local Asset Management team based in Sao Paulo, isnt sharing any locals-only secrets about either event, but hes happy to share his insights on how Brazil is approaching these challenges, and to clear up some common misconceptions about Brazils markets.
Diversification at the Core
The late Sir John Templeton was certainly a champion of diversifying ones basket of investments. And so is Tucker Scott, portfolio manager for Templeton Global Equity Group and manager of Templeton Foreign Fund. Diversification is at the core of his investment strategy. A summary of his recent remarks: We try to find stocks that we believe are undervalued, then build a portfolio thats well-diversified by industry and by country. We try to limit position sizes in an attempt to help limit potential stock-specific risk.
Readers Questions Answered Part IX
It doesnt make sense for any of the countries in the Eurozone to leave the Euro. Moving into another currency does not solve any problems. Thats why Im baffled when people say a particular country should leave the Eurozone. As I see it, the choice to exit a currency is not made by the government, its a choice made by the people. The good news is that the Europeans, in addition to providing more liquidity, are striving to get to the core of the problem by trying to impose fiscal discipline. For this reason, I think the outcome should be positive in the long term.
The Search for Yield in a Low-Rate Environment
There are always opportunities to capture yieldif you are willing to shoulder the price of the associated risk. In their words: We look at the return profile for a company historically, and we project that out three to five years. A low-interest rate environment generally benefits heavy borrowers, whose cost of borrowing will be kept low. We believe investors tired of little return may move out on the risk spectrum in search of more potential return. Dividends can indicate a company cares about its shareholders. Dividends look like theyre here to stay.
Par for the Investing Course
Theres a certain Hollywood mystique around the quest for The Next Great Investment. The un-glamorous truth, of course, is that unearthing hidden opportunities actually takes equal parts elbow grease and know-how. Par Rostom, is that roll-up-the-sleeves kind of guy. Hes not looking to invest in companies just because they are household names with splashy advertising campaigns. The companies are the ones he feels are best in their particular niche, but that youve probably never heard of. Surprisingly, hes finding some of them in the eurozone, a place the crowd is largely avoiding today.
Picking Stocks, Stock-by-Stock
Katrina Dudley, co-manager for Mutual European Fund, is a savvy stock shopper with both patience and resources. Here is a taste of her stock-picking approach as inspired by Mutual Series guiding principle: buy a dollars worth of assets at a discount. 1. Macro considerations are important, but they dont change our stock-by-stock selection process 2. Volatility is here to stay, but it can create opportunity 3. Were looking at the company-level impact of macro influences like eurozone austerity 4. Many European companies are readjusting their cost base, becoming more competitive.
Putting Colombia on the Global Investment Map
Colombias real GDP is projected to grow by between 5% and 6% by end 2011, and inflation to end 2011 at less than 4%. The primary caveat: lack of infrastructure remains one of the main challenges for the country; past guerrilla conflicts made large parts of the country inaccessible, a hurdle the country has not quite yet overcome. However, as security has improved, the central government has gained more access to the countryside, enabling it to make some progress on infrastructure improvements.
Dipping a Toe Back Into the Market
After the rollercoaster that was 2011, trying to explain why now seems like a good time to venture back in still sounds a little crazy. But for those who are looking for some perspective, youve come to the right place. Read on for why Ed Jamieson, president/CIO of Franklin Equity Group, Peter Langerman, president/CEO of Mutual Series, Gary Motyl, president/CIO of Templeton Global Equity Group, and Mark Mobius, executive chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group, all think it might be time for investors to consider taking the plunge.
Capitalizing on Cambodia
Cambodia has been making strides into the capital market arena. The government has been encouraging foreign and local investment. Eventually, the local capital market should follow suit. The Cambodia Securities Exchange opened last year, making it one of the last Southeast Asian nations to open a stock exchange. Neighboring Laos opened its bourse in January 2011 and Vietnams exchange has been operating since 2000. 3 Though the Cambodian exchange has no stocks listed as I write this, the plan is to have state-owned companies in utilities, telecoms and portsto be listed.
Greek Crisis: This Too Shall Pass
Jerry Palmieri, Vice President and Sr. Portfolio Manager for Franklin Equity Group, doesnt worry too much about whether the Greek drama dominating daily headlines will turn into global market tragedy. A veteran of Franklin Templeton since 1965, hes survived to tell the tale after more than four decades of market ups and downs. His wizened view summarized: Market ups and downs are to be expected. U.S. market, economy will survive the Greek debt crisis. Things will work out. Market timing not the ticket to long-term investing success.
Hasenstab Sticks to His Guns
Michael Hasenstab, Portfolio Manager of the Templeton Global Bond Fund, doesnt scare so easily. As he reiterated recently, he actually sees times of market panic as opportunities to make investments where he sees long-term value. The key thoughts he shared: The challenge during periods of volatility is that, although investors can take a short-term hit, this volatility can create opportunity. Fears Europe will sink Asia appear overblown. China not likely to see a hard landing. The Eurozone drama continues to unfold.
Order and Progress on the Rise in Brazil
My worldwide pursuit of good investing bargains takes me to some magnificent countries. In my view, Brazil is certainly among the most beautiful and economically vibrant in the western hemisphere. Its Portuguese-speaking multiracial population of almost 200 million1 represents a growing and upwardly mobile consumer market. Brazil is the fifth most populated country in the world and is chock-full of natural resources and rich farmland. Appropriately, the countrys name comes from the wood that grows along the coast, which was greatly valued by the European textile industry.
Rise of the Dragon
With the debt situation in Europe continuing to further unravel and dim economic prospects in the U.S., many have come to believe that the star of the dragon descendants has the potential to rise even further in the coming years. Chinas GDP growth is expected to moderate to around 8.2% in 2012, which is high compared to developed economies. In this highly connected world, China is unlikely to be immune to the global slowdown, but I believe the Chinese government will utilize their substantial reserves and banking system to stimulate the domestic economy, as they did in 2009.
The Year that Was and The Year to Come
From a long-term perspective, we continue to have a positive outlook on emerging economies. In our opinion, balancing growth, inflation and global competitiveness will be the task ahead for many emerging countries in the months to come. We believe that emerging stock markets could be much larger than they are today, and over the long term, their combined value could potentially exceed the combined value of the U.S., Japanese and European equity markets.
Pioneering Frontier Markets
While emerging markets were considered a niche or exotic investment when I started investing in the late 1980s, many investors are now familiar with them and Im seeing more and more investors turning to emerging markets as a way to diversify their portfolios. Yet, emerging markets themselves are not a homogeneous zone. Within the emerging markets universe, we believe frontier markets as a whole have begun to take an impressive lead in terms of growth.
Update on Korean Peninsula
The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, escalated the uncertainty surrounding the regime change in Korea, which was preparing for a leadership transition in 2012. Little is known about Kim Jong-un, the young man who is taking on the role of dynastic head. Some analysts feel that the death of Kim Jong-il increases the risks and uncertainties from the secretive Pyongyang regime, which has consequences for security on the Korean peninsula and beyond. South Korea and Japan are most immediately threatened, but China and the U.S. are also deeply involved with stakes in North Koreas future.
Emerging Markets: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Almost every market move these days seems to be tied to the latest headline coming from Europe. And the U.S. political deadlock on deficit reduction, high unemployment and fear of a recession hiding under the bed are certainly not helping investor morale. But dont throw in the towel just yet. While the ongoing turbulence in the markets has investors feeling more than a little edgy, the story of robust and resilient growth in emerging markets seems cause for optimism.
Betting on Macau
Macaus lifeblood is the casinos. Its quite astounding to consider that Macaus 2010 gaming revenue was four times that of Las Vegas, making it the worlds top casino market. Macau casinos are expecting 2011 gaming revenues of $34 billion whereas Las Vegas anticipating revenues of $6 billion. The potential for Macau looks good to us, however, casinos in Singaporeare providing stiff competition, now represent the worlds second-largest gaming market. In addition, Singapore casinos enjoy a lower tax on gaming revenues. However, we still think Macauis a solid prospect for good investment.
Readers Questions Answered Part VIII
Its been a while since I answered some readers questions. Thank you, readers, for all your responses to the blogthey have been highly encouraging. 1. Do you think there will be a recession globally or in emerging markets from a mid- to
long-term perspective? 2. What is the impact if one or more countries withdrew from the euro? 3.What is your view on Ukraine? Ukraine is one of the more interesting markets since it has a number of viable industries with growth potential.
Readers Questions Answered Part VIII
Its been a while since I answered some readers questions. Thank you, readers, for all your responses to the blogthey have been highly encouraging. 1. Do you think there will be a recession globally or in emerging markets from a mid- to
long-term perspective? 2. What is the impact if one or more countries withdrew from the euro? 3.What is your view on Ukraine? Ukraine is one of the more interesting markets since it has a number of viable industries with growth potential.
Flooding in Thailand
While the consequences of the flood damage will negatively impact Thai corporate earnings, we believe the long term outlook for Thailand remains strong. In addition to the corporate tax cuts and various stimulus packages that have already been announced, the Thai government plans to spend US$13 billion on investments in dams, irrigation and water management to restore the country. We believe Thailand should also remain an attractive place for foreign direct investment due to location advantages, a supportive business environment and highly competitive workforce.
Addressing Market Volatility
With ongoing global uncertainty, I believe there are still a lot of questions surrounding the impact of market volatility in both developed and emerging markets. I recently recorded an interview discussing my views on some of these questions and want to share it with you through a video blog. I hope you like it.
Commodities and Conservation in the Caspian
What country is the worlds largest producer of petroleum? No, its not Saudi Arabia but Russia. Oil and gas are important to Russias economy, as are a whole host of natural resources such as nickel, palladium, diamonds, etc. Because of what have been higher commodity prices, Russias economy is growing at a fast pace, projected by IMF to grow 4.3% this year, interest rates have come down from their peak in 2008, unemployment is lower, foreign reserves have risen to over US$500 billion as at July 2011, and Russian equity markets have generally done well since 2008, even considering declines.
More Readers Questions Answered
We have begun to see signs that the overheated Chinese economy may moderate in the not-too-distant future. We believe that inflation in China could reach a peak in the near future as a result of the Chinese governments decision in July to increase pork supply by releasing a portion of their strategic pork reserves. By releasing more pork supply into the market, the government hopes to combat rising pork prices. That move, combined with an easing growth rate, could subsequently lead to the end of the central banks current tightening monetary policy cycle in the near term.
Readers Questions Answered Part VII
Many of you may be particularly concerned about the developments related to debt in the eurozone and theU.S.over the last few weeks. Id like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts on these events and respond to a couple of reader questions. To me, the European debt situation does not seem as serious as the U.S. debt crisis, both in terms of scale and the possible impact on the global economy. As such, I believe the worlds focus should really be on the U.S. debt crisis. We also have to remember that the tolerance for debt is generally affected by investor confidence levels.
The U.S. Debt and Emerging Market Opportunities
The initial market reaction will likely be a high degree of uncertainty and volatility, since investors will likely not know where to turn for assets with lower short-term volatility. During the subprime crisis, investors largely sought such assets in U.S. Dollars and Treasuries. While during the subprime crisis the USD index was high, now it is low reflecting a changed perception of markets that may be considered less volatile in the short-term. In particular, we believe currencies and stocks of emerging countries may look relatively attractive.
Urbanization: Driving Commodity Demand
Increasing economic activity in emerging markets has continued to push up the demand and prices for key resources such as metals and oil. Infrastructure spending is a key factor driving this rising demand, as more of the working population in emerging markets move from rural areas to the cities, increasing consumption and putting upward pressure on both hard and soft commodities. Long-term commodity prices are likely to be driven by rising global demand as well as increasing costs to obtain these commodities.
Urbanization: Building a New World
Over the next few decades, I believe we are likely to see an increase in several types of infrastructure investments due to rapid urbanization, which drives the increasing global demand for resources, mainly from emerging markets. Rapid urbanization in emerging markets, driven by rural populations migrating to cities in search of work and better opportunities, has put pressure on resources and prompted governments to pump money into a range of urban infrastructure-related sectors such as housing, transportation, sanitation, water, electricity and telecommunications.
Argentina
Argentina has been experiencing steady growth throughout the years despite the country?s economic problems, from double-digit inflation to a shrinking trade surplus. We saw one good example of the improvements in the country when we arrived at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport, which is in much better shape than it was in the past. Besides the bright and airy new wing, the customs and immigration process was quick and efficient. We then checked into a modern hotel in the Puerto Madero area in Buenos Aires, which is another good example of Argentina?s transformation.
Turkey: A Rising Power Bridging Europe and Asia
Turkey is the land where the European and Asian continents meet. I asked Carlos von Hardenberg, who is based in Istanbul and oversees our frontier market strategies, to share his views from the center of Eurasia: Since the implementation of the customs union agreement with the European Union (EU) in 1996, Turkey?s trade with EU countries has grown substantially in certain areas. In particular, the Turkish automobile sector has been growing at a fast pace and has become highly competitive. Between 1999 and 2008, auto production in Turkey grew by 285% to 1.15 million vehicles per year.
The Problem with the Misuse of Derivatives
Market volatility is a reality of today and goes in two directions, up and down. One of the reasons we have (and are likely to continue to see) this level of volatility is because of the occasional misuse of derivatives. Of course, not all derivatives are bad. If understood and used appropriately they can be used by funds as tools to hedge or mitigate risk. For example, currency forwards or interest rate swaps are typically used to hedge out a fund?s risk related to a specific currency or interest rate exposure.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the federation of seven emirates including Dubai. The UAE?s combined economy is large compared to its relatively small size?it has a population of around five million, of which 1.6 million live in Abu Dhabi. Per capita GDP in the UAE is more than US$40,000, and that number is significantly higher for Abu Dhabi, mostly because of the incredible earnings from oil and gas. Each day, Abu Dhabi produces more than 2 million barrels of oil, and its oil reserves are now estimated at nearly 98 billion barrels, the sixth largest in the world.
Oman
I recently visited Muscat, the capital of Oman. Oman has a very strategic position in the Middle East, controlling the tip of the Musandam peninsula even though the peninsula is separated from the rest of Omanby land belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). That tip points right into the Straits of Hormuz, which is the choke point for oil leaving Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq and the UAE from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, leading to the Indian Ocean. On a clear day, you can see Iran from the tip of the peninsula. Oman?s military, therefore, has to protect that waterway.
Opportunities in Southeast Asia (video)
Asia presents a wealth of investment opportunities. Economic giants like China and India, with their increasing demand for commodities and natural resources, play a pivotal role for growth in the region, including emerging markets in Southeast Asia. I think the outlook for Southeast Asia remains very positive. Countries like Thailand and Indonesia have seen very rapid growth in the last decade, and frontier markets like Vietnam and Laos, with their strong growth potential, are also very interesting to us.
Africa: Challenges and Outlook
In this post, I will discuss what I think are Africa?s key challenges. Corruption is a major problem in Africa. However, accusations of corruption against African governments could also be lodged against entities in the developed world that seek to buy the influence of these governments. One important development has been the Cardin-Lugar amendment to the Dodd-Frank finance reform bill in the U.S., requiring that oil, natural gas and mining companies registered on the New York Stock Exchange disclose any payment made to a foreign government for the purpose of the commercial development.
Africa: Opportunities in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya
Those who are optimistic about Africa say that after many years of colonialism, it is beginning to demonstrate its potential. The continent does have its detractors, who say that while it may have been free of colonial rule for 60 years, the continent continues to battle poverty, corruption, AIDS and armed conflict. However, while Africa does have challenges, I am encouraged by another side of Africa that is gradually emerging with the development of capital markets, consumerism and technology.
Mexico: Conquering its Challenges
Mexico has a wonderful combination of a dynamic economy with an active cultural scene. Just like other markets, Mexico?s stock market suffered a crash at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, moving from the 2007 high of almost 32,473 points to an October 2008 low of 16,979 points, a huge decline. Since then it has climbed steadily, more than doubling to reach 38,600 points at the beginning of this year. The Mexican economy has mirrored the stock market. After a disastrous 6% contraction of the economy in 2009, Mexico grew by more than 5% last year and is expected to grow by 4% in 2011.
China Part II ? Looking Beyond Its Shores
China?s latest 5 Year Plan is focusing on growing the domestic economy with a focus on harmony. A lot of the foreign investments and the large capital inflows into the Chinese market have all been focused on tapping into one of the world?s largest consumer markets. However, what many are missing is that China is the world?s fifth largest investor in terms of outbound direct investment at about US$56.5 billion in 2009. Last December, China announced US$16 billion in deals in India and this year, Chinese officials pledged to purchase as much as 6 billion Euro worth of Spanish gov bonds.
China Part I ? Planning for its Future
As a result of some labor shortages and rising wages in the low-end labor intensive manufacturing sector, some managers are moving parts of their production out of China to lower-cost countries such as Vietnam. This raises the question of unemployment in the export-oriented area which, combined with inflation, could result in social turmoil and labor unrest, if it?s not well-managed. One positive aspect is that the Chinese government recognizes the issues and addresses many of them in their new Five-Year Plan.
The Middle East: A Youthful Reawakening
The upheavals in the Middle East and N.Africa can be attributed to rising food prices, unemployment, corruption and political stagnation. Unemployment has stayed high and waves of new young job seekers entering the labor market have not been absorbed. As in many emerging markets, the populations in MENA countries are young. Most politically explosive is that an increasing number of the unemployed are high school and university graduates. It is important to note that the recent protests have come not from the lowest income levels but from middle-class and educated Arabs seeking fair treatment.
Readers? Questions Answered Part VI
It?s been a while since I answered some readers? questions. Questions addressed: What are your main criteria when picking a sector and the company in a particular sector? Most of the small companies in India are family-owned. Does this create a problem? What are your thoughts on Africa? What is your view on the Baltic States? Which sectors do you think are the most interesting? What is your view on the Brazilian and the Mexican equity markets for 2011?
Emerging Markets Vision 2020
There will always be unforeseen factors and circumstances that might become catalysts for greater changes in the global landscape, as we have seen from the current unrests in the Middle East.. No one knows what will happen in the future, but below is some of what I envision for the emerging markets landscape in the next decade.
Asia Insights from EM Analyst Conference
Many tend to focus on China and India, the two rising Asian economic powers, and there are reasons why we believe both, which are currently among the top five largest economies in the world will likely be among the top three in 2020. Land and labor costs remain cheap in China. In addition, the country appears to have a competitive edge in terms of work ethics, relatively flexible labor laws and excellent logistics. India?s strength is in its young, growing and increasingly well-educated population, which is fluent in English. This has enabled the country to become a leader in IT consultancy.
India: Kingdom of Dreams
Throughout my travels, I have visited some countries that never cease to amaze me every time I go back, and India is definitely one of them. The country is changing and growing at an incredible pace. In 2010, India?s economy grew by 9.7%, and for 2011 the IMF projects GDP growth to be 8.4%. From 2005 to 2010, India?s economy grew around 6% to 8% each year, an impressive feat for such a large economy. Looking ahead, from 2011 to 2030, EIU forecasts GDP growth to average 6.5% a year, which would make India the fastest-growing large economy in the world during that period.
Egypt
Stock markets in Egypt have been closed since January 30 and those in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region declined substantially between January 25 and February 1 as sentiment among some investors turned negative amid the political uncertainty. Other investors have been seeking an opportunity to buy stocks at low prices. The geopolitical ramifications of this unrest are many, not only for Egypt but also potentially for the rest of the world, and for the most part will probably be positive since political reform has been long overdue in the region.
A Unique Offering in Bucharest, Romania
One of the clearest symbols of a market economy is the stock exchange. The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) was inaugurated in 1882, but it was closed when the communist regime took power after WWII. In 1995, the exchange reopened, listing only six companies and holding just one weekly trading session. Less than 10 years later, by the end of 2004, things had changed quite a bit?with more than 70 listed companies and regular daily trading, the market?s capitalization stood at about 17% of Romania?s GDP. Unfortunately, this impressive start was not followed by additional growth.
Digging for Hidden Gems Among Small Caps
Small-cap companies in emerging markets are generally under-researched and not as established as their large-cap counterparts. Some have very short track records, not much background and little publicly accessible information, therefore presenting a higher level of perceived risk and deterring many investors. But for these very reasons, share prices of small?cap companies are less likely to reflect their true value with fewer analysts covering them, thus creating attractive investment opportunities.
Descending a Mine Shaft in the Kazhakstan Steppes
Kazakhstan is becoming increasingly important to us as an investment destination. It has vast natural resources such as oil, gas, copper, uranium and a host of other minerals. As a result of the billions of dollars pouring into the country to develop those resources, we believe Kazakhstan has become the economic engine for Central Asia. We have been investing in both the petroleum and mining sectors in Kazakhstan, and the purpose of this visit was to take a closer look at the mining sector.
Emerging Markets in 2011 ? Strong Economies, Rising Prices
I believe emerging markets are now in a secular bull market, and as discussed below, I expect this trend to continue into 2011. Even more money is likely to be directed into these markets as investors around the world realize that emerging economies on average are growing three times faster than developed economies, and generally have more foreign reserves and lower debt-to-GDP ratios than their developed counterparts.
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