Mumbai, 2 September, 2024: Franklin Templeton (India) announced the launch of its open-ended medium to long duration debt fund – Franklin India Medium to Long Duration Fund (FIMLDF). The fund will look to invest in debt and money market instruments like non-convertible debentures, bonds, certificates of deposits, commercial papers, treasury bills and government securities, while maintaining a duration between 4 and 7 years. FIMLDF will be managed by Chandni Gupta, VP & Portfolio Manager and Anuj Tagra, VP & Portfolio Manager, India Fixed Income, Franklin Templeton.
Commenting on the fund launch and its investment strategy, Chandni Gupta, Vice President & Portfolio Manager, India Fixed Income, Franklin Templeton, said, “FIMLDF will be dynamically managed, allowing it to adjust its duration exposure in response to changing macro environment, and it may be an ideal investment option for investors looking to deploy money in fixed income funds as a part of their strategic investment allocation.”
Anuj Tagra, Vice President & Portfolio Manager, India Fixed Income, Franklin Templeton, added, “We foresee robust domestic economic growth with a shallow rate cut cycle leading to a steeper yield curve. The fund aims to generate accrual income while opportunistically managing duration risk to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns.”
Speaking on the launch of the fund, Avinash Satwalekar, President, Franklin Templeton–India, said, “We are expanding our fixed income range, having identified gaps spanning major categories in the high credit space. FIMLDF caters to investors looking for a product that can adapt to market cycles and invest in quality debt instruments. Our investment team will use top-down analysis to determine portfolio maturity and a bottom-up approach to security selection and aim to invest in a mix of government securities and corporate debt. The Indian market offers great opportunity for long-term players like Franklin Templeton, and we plan to continue bringing innovative solutions, and global best practices to our investors and partners in India.”