Putnam Perspectives - Putnam Investments

Explore research-driven analysis of evolving market themes

Putnam Global GDP Nowcast

Virus cuts global growth outlook

▲1.59%

Putnam Global Risk Appetite Index

Risk appetite collapses in February

Risk

Markets wrestle with policy versus the pandemic

We are looking for progress in public health and credit market indicators as policy responds to the economic shock surrounding the pandemic and efforts to contain it.

Equity opportunities in challenging markets

Putnam’s equity investment professionals recently discussed market conditions, Putnam strategies, and their outlooks.

Manager insights: Bulls, bears, and bond markets

With the extreme swings in the market over the past few weeks, several of Putnam’s senior fixed-income managers shared their insights on the bond markets

Manager insights on current volatility

Putnam Investments hosted a webcast featuring insights on current volatility and the COVID-19 pandemic from three senior investment managers.

Slowing the spread of Covid-19 entails economic disruption

The global economic outlook has deteriorated because of the coronavirus pandemic and rising supply and demand disruptions.

The Fed reacts to coronavirus economic risks

The Fed made a proactive move to reduce the federal funds rate by 50 basis points.

The impact of coronavirus on markets

The spread of coronavirus infections is having an impact on China’s GDP and on financial market sentiment worldwide.

Is another round of Fed rate cuts looming?

The Federal Reserve may lower its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points in 2020 if sustained financial market stress affects economic activity.

Solutions to antibiotic resistance

As the focus on natural ingredients intensifies, so has concern about antibiotic use in food production.

Waiting for the next wave of growth

We believe the global economy will continue to bounce around the current growth pace. Trade, manufacturing, and oil, along with geopolitical risks, will play a role in determining the trajectory.

China's economy braces for fallout from coronavirus

There will be some temporary disruption to economic activity in China and elsewhere from the coronavirus outbreak.

Bonds likely to be range bound in 2020

Global growth will likely stabilize and remain soft as we head into 2020.

Fashion industry tackles sustainability challenges

Our Sustainable Investing Team discusses efforts to address environmentally unfriendly processes.

Mixed economic messages for 2020

2020 is likely to be another year of sluggish growth with continued risk of a sharper downturn.

Bond yields in early 2020 likely to stay range bound

Bond yields will likely stay range bound in early 2020 as the economy shifts to a lower gear and central banks shift to neutral.

Reading signs of stabilization

The global economy is likely to stabilize at around the current growth rate.

A mixed economic outlook

Global growth will remain sluggish this year as protectionist tariffs continue to rattle manufacturers, businesses, and financial markets.

Will the improving housing market further divide the Fed?

The Fed remains divided on the trajectory of interest rates; a pick up in U.S. housing activity may increase this division.

Trump, Johnson cloud outlook

Global growth continues to cool under the weight of the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China.

Talking sustainability with CEOs

We have ongoing dialogue with the management teams of companies in which we invest, across a wide range of sustainability-related topics.

An inverted yield curve: Recession or stagnation?

The Treasury yield curve briefly inverted in August, rattling markets with the possibility of a recession.

July rate cut: “Insurance” policy or recession guard?

The Fed cut interest rates to protect growth from downside risks and described the move as a mid-cycle adjustment to policy, or a so-called “insurance” cut.

Trade war fallout can hurt risky assets

The simmering trade war between the United States and China is expected to continue, and could put the economy at risk.

Implications of the Huawei export ban

With Huawei blocked by the U.S. Commerce Department from buying U.S. technology, we discuss ramifications on the technology sector and how the ban may end.

Trade tensions could reduce global GDP

There is a significant likelihood that U.S.-China trade tensions will remain high. Effects on global GDP effects are uncertain, but could exceed 1%.

Securitized debt: Building blocks of a diversified portfolio

Securitized debt may be used to create a diversified portfolio through various risk exposures

What November means for 2019

The events of November provide a fresh view of two key risks facing the economy in 2019 — a hawkish Fed and an escalation of the trade war.

How company diversity can help performance

The potential to improve work performance is perhaps the most intriguing and least understood argument for diversity — and worth examining in more depth.

October stock market volatility may signal a shift

Recent stock market volatility reflects a process of pricing in the fact that the global growth outlook has diverged.

Italy may be conduit for EM contagion

If Italy's populist government increases government debt, prices of Italian bonds and banks could drop and trigger a larger crisis for the region and world.

Buybacks and M&A may fuel equities, but trade conflict is a key risk

Several trends could boost equity returns, but trade negotiations create market risk.

Back in black: Higher oil prices to persist

Fueling higher oil prices this year — and counter to market expectations — is a drop in oil inventories ...

The unrecognized diversification profile of securitized debt

Securitized debt may be less familiar to many institutions, but it offers the diversification and potential performance profile that many of them seek.