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0000350900TEMPLETON GLOBAL SMALLER COMPANIES FUND485BPOS2012-12-272013-01-012012-08-31false2013-01-01~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskReturnDetail column period compact * row primary compact * ~Fund SummaryInvestment GoalLong-term capital growth.Fees and Expenses of the FundYou may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds.50000These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 26 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page 44 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ShareholderFeesData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~0.05750.000.000.000.000.04000.01000.00<div><p>ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES</p><p>(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</p></div>~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/OperatingExpensesData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~0.00750.00750.00750.00750.00250.01000.01000.000.00410.00410.00410.00410.01410.02160.02160.0116ExampleThis Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:71099613022169~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExample column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~61997613592303319676115924931183686381409If you do not sell your shares:~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~2196761159230321967611592493Portfolio Turnover0.2544<div><p>The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 25.44% of the average value of its portfolio.</p></div>Principal Investment StrategiesUnder normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of smaller companies located anywhere in the world.<div><p>Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in securities of smaller companies located anywhere in the world. The securities in which the Fund invests are primarily common stocks. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its assets in the securities of companies located in emerging markets. The Fund will invest its assets in issuers located in at least three different countries (including the United States) and will invest at least 40% of its net assets in foreign securities.</p><p>The investment manager employs a strategy of investing in securities of companies with a market capitalization of not more than $2 billion at the time of initial purchase. Once a security qualifies for initial purchase, it continues to qualify for additional purchases as long as it is held by the Fund, provided that its market capitalization does not exceed $4 billion. For purposes of monitoring the Fund's compliance with the requirement that it invest predominantly in the securities of smaller companies, smaller companies are defined as those with market capitalizations that do not exceed $4 billion.</p><p>When choosing equity investments for the Fund, the investment manager applies a “bottom-up,” value-oriented, long-term approach, focusing on the market price of a company’s securities relative to the investment manager’s evaluation of the company’s long-term earnings, asset value and cash flow potential. The investment manager also considers a company’s price/earnings ratio, profit margins and liquidation value.</p></div>Principal Risks<div><p>You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.</p><p>Market</p><p>The market values of securities owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security’s market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.</p><p>Individual stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of other types of investments. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.</p><p>Smaller Companies</p><p>Securities issued by smaller companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies, involve substantial risks and should be considered speculative. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, smaller companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.</p><p>Foreign Securities</p><p>Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: political and economic developments - the political, economic and social structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S.; trading practices - government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; availability of information - foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; limited markets - the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. The risks of foreign investments may be greater in developing or emerging market countries.</p><p>Emerging Markets</p><p>The Fund’s investments in emerging market countries are subject to all of the risks of foreign investing generally, and have additional heightened risks due to a lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets, including: delays in settling portfolio securities transactions; currency and capital controls; greater sensitivity to interest rate changes; pervasiveness of corruption and crime; currency exchange rate volatility; and inflation, deflation or currency devaluation.</p><p>Management</p><p>The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.</p></div>PerformanceThe following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance.The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.(800) DIAL BEN/342-5236franklintempleton.comSales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.<div><p>The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.</p><p>Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.</p></div>CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS-0.08790.53360.26270.07700.24300.0093-0.50280.70630.2630-0.2068~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/BarChartData column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member ~Best Quarter:2009-06-300.4019Worst Quarter:2008-12-31-0.3218As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was 14.21%.<table style="font: 11px sans-serif; background-color:#DDDDDD" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="745"><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top">Best Quarter:</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">Q2'09</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">40.19%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top">Worst Quarter:</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">Q4'08</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">-32.18%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top" colspan="3">As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was 14.21%.</td></tr></table><div><p>AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS<br/>(figures reflect sales charges)</p><p>For the periods ended December 31, 2011</p></div>~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/PerformanceTableData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact tgscf_S000008758Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~Return Before Taxes-0.2520-0.04170.0669-0.2522-0.04810.0566-0.1613-0.03440.0589-0.2446-0.04070.0669-0.2208-0.03780.0652-0.2047-0.02790.07600.24400.05090.0783<div><p>The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.</p></div>