International

Global equity markets finished the week lower amidst renewed concerns about Europe and on signs that USFederal Reserve is less likely to take up further quantitative easing over the near term.The MSCI ACWorld Indexdeclined 1.58% after euro-area economic data came in below market expectations and lackluster demand forSpanish bonds. Major Treasury bond yields were broadly trading lower as economic data came in lower thanexpectations in key economies. Prices of commodities including crude oil, industrial & precious metals correctedthis week and the Reuters Jefferies CRB Index closed 0.64% lower.The US dollar pared weekly gains after slowerthan expected expansion in jobs weighed on the currency.

• Asia-Pacific: Chinese stocks rebounded this week after China Securities Regulatory Commissionincreased the amount qualified foreign institutional investors can invest in equities, bonds and bank depositsto $80 bln from $30 bln. China PMI data indicated divergent trends – the official PMI index moved up to53.1 from 51, in contrast to the HSBC PMI index that edged lower.The variance may be due to the latter’sbias towards export-oriented industries vis-à-vis the former.The Bank of Japan’sTankan survey showed thatbusiness sentiment remained cautious – the large manufacturers' business sentiment index remainedunchanged. Economic data out of South Korea was mixed with manufacturing PMI improving andinflation falling, while exports fell. Reserve Bank of Australia left the cash rate unchanged at 4.25%. On theM&A front, DBS is acquiring 67% stake in Indonesia’s Bank Danamon for $4.9 bln.

• Europe: A weak Spanish debt auction and dismal economic data weighed on regional equity marketsentiment. Euro Area Markit final PMI was confirmed at 47.7, down from 49 in February as France andGermany recorded significant decline in activity. In contrast periphery nations reported improvement.German factory orders and industrial production data was lackluster (up 0.3%mom), but the country’sunemployment rate continued to ease and business confidence touched multi-month highs. Both Bankof England and ECB left policy rates unchanged. Turkey's central bank increased funding to alleviateliquidity pressures, but indicated that it will continue to support Lira and target inflation curbing.Economic reports out of the UK were mixed – services PMI and business optimism indexclimbed higher while the manufacturing activity index fell by 1%. Illumina’s board rejected Roche’stakeover offer.

• Americas: US equity indices finished lower this week as investors speculated the US Federal Reservewill not pursue further quantitative easing and concerns about euro-zone resurfaced. On the economicfront, non-farm payrolls expanded by 120,000 and the unemployment rate fell by one tick to 8.2%.However, the expansion was much lesser than market expectations.While the ISM manufacturing indexrose, the services index slid to 56 from 57.3. Elsewhere in the region, Canada added 82,300 jobsfollowing a 2,300 decline in February. Consequently the jobless rate dipped to 7.2% from 7.4%. TheBrazilian government announced a wide range of measures as part of its fiscal stimulus package and tobeef up domestic industry - around $60 billion or 1.5% of its GDP. On the corporate front, Avonrejected Coty’s $10 bln offer stating it substantially undervalued the company. Burger King sold 29%stake for $1.4 bln to Justice Holdings, which plans to take the company public again.

Market ReviewWEEK ENDED APRIL 6, 2012

Weekly Weeklychange (%) change (%)

MSCI AC World Index -1.58 Xetra DAX* -2.47

FTSE Eurotop 100* -1.49 CAC 40* -3.04

MSCI AC Asia Pacific -1.34 FTSE 100* -0.78

Dow Jones* -1.15 Hang Seng* 0.18

Nasdaq* -0.36 Nikkei -3.92

S&P 500* -0.74 KOSPI 0.74

*As of April 5, 2012

India - Equity

Frontline indices were range-bound but managed to close the holiday shortened week on a positive note.Gains

in mid and small cap stocks outpaced large caps by a significant margin. Consumer durables, capital goods and

power sectors outperformed broad markets while healthcare stocks fell. FII flows for the first two days of the

week amounted to $73 mln. On the macro front, the latest HSBC PMI release for India indicates industrial

activity moderated reflecting a drop in both the current and forward looking indicators.The index however

remains above 50 (in expansion mode).

• Foreign flows: FII inflows have been quite healthy in 2012 helped by increased risk appetite (equity

markets) and also the search for higher yields (debt markets). Compared to last year’s FII outflows of $495

mln in equity and $8.5 bln inflows in debt, we have witnessed YTD positive flows of $8.9 bln in equity

and $3.9 bln in debt respectively. However, recent changes proposed in the Union Budget with respect to

offshore transactions and tax havens, once notified, are likely to impact short term flows. Foreign investors

are seeking clarity on various issues to ensure compliance.At this stage, it appears that long term investors

in equity might not be impacted (no long term capital gains tax in India) too much, but debt flows might

be affected, depending on the final clarifications.

Source: FactSet, IBES Estimates, Morgan Stanley Research

• Corporate Earnings: Over the last few quarters, Corporate India has been able to register reasonable

revenue growth in a challenging environment, but cost pressures have weighed on profitability. While

headline inflation has tapered in the recent quarter, Indian companies continue to face pressures on

account of high borrowing rates and rising commodity prices. This trend could continue into FY13 as

interest rates are unlikely to come down in a hurry and a mix of decent growth in US/supply issues can

keep input costs at higher levels. The weak rupee can help exporters but will exacerbate import cost

pressures.While markets have rallied in 2012, valuations are still below long term averages and earnings

challenges along with short term issues such as GAAR can impact foreign flows. Downward revisions to

earnings growth have slowed over the last couple of months and we expect earnings trend across sectors/

companies to be disparate. Companies with strong positions (superior products/services, healthy balance

sheets, strong and reliable cash flows) are to stand out for their capability to weather adversity and defend

their market/ competitive positions. Hence, we continue to believe that this environment is ideal for

bottom up stock pickers.

Weekly change (%)

BSE Sensex 0.47

S&P CNX Nifty 0.52

S&P CNX 500 0.96

CNX Midcap 1.28

BSE Smallcap 3.25

India - Debt

Lingering supply woes led Indian bond markets to extend declines this holiday shortened week.The RBI cut back

the t-bill borrowings this week, after the government's first FY13 auction partially devolved on primary dealers.

• Yield Movements: Yields on the 10-year and 5-year benchmark bond yields rose 12 bps each.Yields on 5-

year AAA rated corporate bond increased 9 bps and consequently spreads over gilts narrowed to 91 bps from

95 bps last week.Yields on the 1 year paper firmed up 7 bps while those on the 30-year g-sec paper increased

10 bps.As a result, spreads between the long (30-year) & short end (1-year) of the curve expanded to 45 bps.

• Liquidity/ Borrowings: Overnight call money rates eased back to 8.75% levels and demand for liquidity

under the RBI’s LAF window averaged much lower as year-end pressures faded. Scheduled bond auctions for

four GOI securities – 8.19% GOI 2020, 9.15% GOI 2024, 8.97% GOI 2030 and 8.83% GOI 2041 – worth

Rs. 18,000 crores were subscribed 1.6 times, but the 2020 and 2030 paper auctions devolved partially on

primary dealers due to pricing issues.

• Forex: Relative strength in US dollar post FOMC minutes led the Indian rupee to weaken 0.4% against the

US dollar.As of Mar 30, forex reserves aggregated to $294.4 bln, down $742.5 mln over last week levels.

Source: Morgan Stanley Research

• Macro: As per latest data from RBI, lending growth has increased to about 17% levels and is much ahead of

deposit growth, which has decelerated further to 13.4% (a near seven year low).

On the government finances front, latest data indicated fiscal deficit for Apr-Feb was 94.6% of the revised

budget estimates.This is much higher than the 68.6% deficit recorded in the previous of the budgeted target.

Earlier last month, the government had revised up the fiscal deficit target for FY12 fiscal year to 5.9% of GDP

from 4.6% projected earlier.

04.04.2012 30.03.2012

Exchange rate (Rs./$) 51.06 50.87

Average repos (Rs. Cr) 110,940 179,278

1-yr gilt yield (%) 8.40 8.33

5-yr gilt yield (%) 8.72 8.60

10-yr gilt yield (%) 8.69 8.57

Source: Reuters, Bloomberg

The information contained in this commentary is not a complete presentation of every material fact regarding any industry, security or the fund andis neither an offer for units nor an invitation to invest.This communication is meant for use by the recipient and not for circulation/reproductionwithout prior approval.The views expressed by the portfolio managers are based on current market conditions and information available to themand do not constitute investment advice.

Risk Factors:All investments in mutual funds and securities are subject to market risks and the NAVs of the schemes may go up or down dependingupon the factors and forces affecting the securities market.The past performance of the mutual funds managed by the Franklin Templeton Groupand its affiliates is not necessarily indicative of future performance of the schemes. Please refer to the Scheme Information Documentcarefully before investing. Statutory Details: Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund in India has been set up as a trust by Templeton InternationalInc. (liability restricted to the seed corpus of Rs.1 lac) with Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Pvt. Ltd. as the trustee (Trustee under the IndianTrust Act 1882) and with Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt. Ltd. as the Investment Manager.

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