Explore our thinking about today's financial markets
Most recent post
Company diversity and social justice
June 23, 2020 | Equity
Company diversity is a step toward equity and equity is a step toward inclusion, which is important to company success.
Capital Markets Outlook
Markets wrestle with policy versus the pandemic
April 8, 2020 | Capital Markets Outlook
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.
Fixed Income Outlook
A bull or bear market for bonds?
April 28, 2020 | Fixed Income Outlook
An extremely sharp global downturn is unfolding as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on economic activity and sentiment.
Equity Outlook
Mid-year insights: Assessing the risks
June 26, 2020 | Equity Outlook
We discuss the potential impact of a second wave of the coronavirus and we offer insights on how businesses are faring as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.
Company diversity and social justice
Company diversity is a step toward equity and equity is a step toward inclusion, which is important to company success.
Disruptive change: A growth driver for small companies
Disruptive change is often the force that enables small companies to compete against their larger peers.
Navigating market turmoil: Our intrinsic value compass
Our investments in the communications sector help illustrate our intrinsic value approach to finding opportunities.
Sustainability research: A week in the life of our team
Our research includes discussions with company managements, other researchers and investors, industry and subject experts, and non-profit organizations.
Behavioral shifts bring investment opportunities
Many businesses that have been resilient and strong during the COVID-19 crisis are likely to become even stronger in the aftermath.
Coronavirus tests limits of U.S. stimulus plans
The coronavirus pandemic is testing the limits of fiscal and monetary policy responses from Congress and the Federal Reserve to boost the economy and calm financial markets.
Sustainable value: Gender diversity on corporate boards
Diversity in companies — including gender diversity — can have a positive impact on company performance and strategic ability.
ESG issues alive in healthcare
Our team analyzes medical costs and access as ESG issues affecting human well-being and sustainable economic development.
What’s next for the hard-hit financials sector?
The financials sector has been among the hardest hit from the COVID-19-induced equity market selloff, but there are reasons for optimism.
Perspectives on COVID-19
Putnam’s health-care analysts and portfolio managers offer their outlooks and perspectives on key aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oil’s wild ride and what lies ahead
Demand for oil has collapsed as the coronavirus pandemic devastates the global economy and curbs much of the need for fuel from companies and consumers.
Navigating bond yields
The trajectory of bonds yields will depend on the Federal Reserve's policies and fiscal stimulus amid a sharp global economic downturn.
Investing for growth in volatile markets
Putnam portfolio managers discuss managing risk and finding investment opportunities in challenging markets.
Help plan sponsors be strategic fiduciaries
As companies react to the economic shock, advisors can offer ideas to help plan sponsors in their role as strategic fiduciaries for their 401(k) plans.
Social distancing generates recession
A recession is looming in the United States as COVID-19 and social distancing take a toll on economic activity.
Manager insights: Bulls, bears, and bond markets
With the extreme swings in the market over the last few weeks, several of Putnam’s senior fixed-income managers shared their insights on the bond markets.
Equity opportunities in challenging markets
Putnam’s equity investment professionals recently discussed market conditions, their strategies, and their outlooks.
Recessions and the equity market: A framework for investors
In these days of significant market volatility, investors are looking for a framework.
Stable value as an option for DC plans
We outline key considerations for DC plan sponsors considering stable value funds as a capital preservation option.
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.
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.
The SECURE Act opens a new frontier for 401(k)s
The SECURE Act represents significant changes to retirement savings and could drive a expansion of workplace retirement savings plans including 401(k)s.
Solutions to antibiotic resistance
As the focus on natural ingredients intensifies, so has concern about antibiotic use in food production.
SECURE Act expands access to retirement plans
The SECURE Act of 2019 makes many changes to rules governing retirement savings including provisions to expand access to retirement plans.
Millennial money drives 401(k) plan evolution
Growing in number, the Millennial generation is having an impact on the evolution of 401(k) plan design.
Why stable value funds deserve a closer look
Capital preservation strategies are not all alike, and plan sponsors need to carefully evaluate the options including money. market and stable value funds.
Linking impact and performance
Often, the same elements that create environmental and social benefits are driving positive financial performance.
Engaging with allies to advance sustainable investing
We collaborate with institutions to examine and understand the financial impacts of sustainability.
To reduce employee stress, increase wellness
By offering financial wellness programs in the workplace, employers may help employees reduce money-related stress.
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.
The SECURE Act: Completing an unfinished masterpiece
Congress is considering the SECURE Act, which would enhance workplace retirement savings plans and extend access to millions of workers.
Employers add student loan aid to retention toolkit
College debt set a record high this year and many employers have added student loan aid to their benefit offerings to attract and retain workers.
The 3 Rs of a retirement plan
It is important to consider whether your retirement plan is on track to help meet the goals of retirement, recruitment, and retention.
A success score for the 401(k)
A traditional gauge of success for the 401(k) measures inputs, but companies also need to track outcomes to determine if a plan is successful.
Actively targeting inflation risk for retirement savers
We explain why a dynamic approach to hedging inflation risk in a target-date fund may be a better way to protect a retirement nest egg.
Investing for impact | Q&A with Stephanie Henderson
A member of Putnam's sustainable investing team describes her motivations for spreading ESG fluency throughout the firm to enhance fundamental insights.
Market volatility returns to "old" normal
Our outlook for stock market volatility sees the levels reached in 2018 continuing, in part because these levels were close to the long-term norm.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker, are subject to change with market conditions, and are not meant as investment advice.