Date: Friday, July 03, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM British Summer Time
Duration: 1 hour
Half the year is gone and to some it feels like half a lifetime. After a bruising and unpredictable six months, it’s natural that investors are asking: what's changed, what hasn't and what’s next?
In this episode of ‘Macro moments’, Michael Browne and guests will assess what has genuinely changed in the macro and backdrop and what it means for markets as they take you through:
The macro: Michael will share the Institute’s updated macro outlook under the watchful eye of special guest, Stuart Kirk. They'll look at what has genuinely changed over the first six months and what may matter most from here.
The markets: How do these shifts translate to asset allocation? Oliver Wallin, Solutions Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions (FTIS), will put Stuart's retirement portfolio under the microscope. What does his allocation tell us about his convictions? Where does FTIS agree and where would they do things differently?
The (guest) manager: Stuart Kirk is a celebrated ex (Lex) and current Financial Times columnist, former head of responsible investing at HSBC. He is one of the most outspoken voices in finance.
Register now and please submit your questions in advance.
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Stuart Kirk was already a well-known journalist, investor, adviser and financial commentator before his controversial 2022 speech at the Financial Times Moral Money conference in Miami, where he argued climate risks to investment returns were overstated. His remarks went viral and became a defining moment in the backlash against ESG orthodoxy. But Stuart had built a global audience long before that. He currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times and previously edited Lex, one of the world’s most influential finance columns. Alongside journalism, Stuart has held senior roles across finance, including at Deutsche Bank, DWS and HSBC Asset Management, where he led research, insights and responsible investing. Earlier in his career he was a consultant at Oliver Wyman and a portfolio manager at Morgan Grenfell. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Cambridge, where he was President of the Union Society.
As an Investment Strategist for the Franklin Templeton Institute, Michael leverages the knowledge of the firm's autonomous investment teams to communicate investment views and opinions to internal and external clients and prospects. He also shares key insights on the economy and financial markets with clients and prospects.
Prior to his current role, Michael was Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for Martin Currie, overseeing all the investment teams and providing insight and leadership on strategic initiatives. He has over 30 years of experience at the highest level in Investment Management and shares his expertise through clear and insightful conversations.
A father of five, Michael enjoys time with his family, supporting their various sporting talents and aspirations.
Oliver Wallin is a solutions portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton with responsibility for developing multi-asset portfolios for clients in Europe. Mr. Wallin has over 30 years' experience in financial services, primarily focused on the provision of multi-asset, multi-manager investment solutions.
Prior to Franklin Templeton, Mr. Wallin was an Investment Director for QS Investors, a quantitative multi-asset and equity manager. QS Investors combined with Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions in 2020 to create Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. Before joining QS Investors, Mr. Wallin spent 10 years as an Investment Director at Octopus Investments, where he worked as part of the award-winning multi-manager team. He was previously a founder of North IP, a multi-manager investment specialist, and an asset manager at Henderson Global Investors. Mr. Wallin has also held roles at Schroders and Fidelity, where he began his investment career as a graduate trainee. He entered the financial services industry in 1993.
Mr. Wallin has a bachelor of arts (joint honors) in fine art and history of art from Goldsmiths College, University of London. He also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) designation.
