Franklin Templeton is courting reporters at the launch of its newest mutual fund. The San Mateo-based fund firm invited members of the media to take part in a conference call with the funds portfolio managers Lisa Myers and Michael Hasenstab. The pair manages the Templeton Income Fund, which opens to investors today.

Also on the call will be Jeff Everett and Chris Molumphy, the chief investment officers from Franklin Templeton's global equity and fixed income groups.

The tactic of making the portfolio managers of a new fund available in a conference call as it is launched is one rarely used by the fund industry. In most cases, fund firms rely on press releases and individual interviews with reporters to get the word out. Because of reporter deadline and portfolio managers' busy schedules, that often leads to skimpier coverage of the launch.

Whether Franklin Templeton's tactic will result in more in-depth coverage for the fund remains to be seen.

The portfolio managers will discuss the concept behind the fund, and the outlook and trends in the global stock and bond markets. The international balanced fund will invest in both markets and is intended to appeal to investors seeking attractive yields, and a simple way to access both of these foreign markets within a single mutual fund.  

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