The Monday Call

It is an understatement to say that a lot has happened over the first two weeks of April. On this The Monday Call we discuss the motivation behind the Tariff announcement from the United States, our view of the last 10 days and scenarios for the path ahead. This session will cover: • the initial and subsequent tariff announcements • what tariffs could mean for the United States, New Zealand and gl...

Are New Zealand shares finally poised for a turnaround? Since the COVID lockdowns, the New Zealand share market has struggled, down 12%, while the United States market has surged 69%. With local shares lagging, is this the moment for a rebound? Mortgage rates have stabilised, consumer spending is on the rise, and farmers and exporters are back at the forefront. With valuations looking more attract...

Less than a month ago, the S&P 500 hit a record high. Now it’s down 10%, sparking media headlines. But despite the drop, United States shares are still up over 8% in the past year. Market swings like this are normal, and not all global markets are reacting the same way. While Trump’s trade policies dominate the conversation, they’re just one piece of a bigger picture. This week, Mark Brooks, C...

The global order is shifting with rising autocracies, evolving alliances, and rapid technological advancements redefining international stability, trade and security – presenting important questions about New Zealand’s geopolitical position and economic direction. Joining us from New York, Alex Grigor is an expert in international relations, cyberwarfare and AI. With over 20 years of experience, h...

The New Zealand economy is turning a corner, with green shoots replacing red flags and confidence inching its way back. But global uncertainty remains. Trade tensions are heating up, and tariff threats loom large. This week, top economist Cameron Bagrie joins us to discuss the outlook. Will the recovery move up a gear, or are the brakes about to be applied? Will our exports be hurt, or can we crea...

In our first Monday Call for 2025, we welcome Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Funds, to discuss the key themes shaping the investment landscape. Despite global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and major elections, 2024 ended on a strong note for markets. Now we look at what’s next. Markets enter 2025 with a mix of opportunities and challenges. The US remains a driving force, powered...

The global economy’s return to normality in 2024 fuelled the continuation of the bull market that began in 2022, delivering a record year for many markets. At the start of the year, the average forecaster predicted just a 3% increase in the United States stock market – yet markets surged far beyond those expectations. In this year-in-review podcast, we’ll unpack the key trends and insights. What w...

Hugh Hendry is an award-winning hedge fund manager, investment thought leader, and surfer. He founded Eclectica in 2005, a London-based global macro fund known for its high-conviction, contrarian approach. Shortly after launching Eclectica, Hugh gained recognition with impressive returns of 50% in its second year and over 30% in 2008 during the height of the Global Financial Crisis. Although Eclec...

The suspense of the U.S. election, mounting government budget pressures, persistent inflation concerns in key economies, global power shifts, and new technologies are driving a complex, opportunity-rich environment for investors with longer time horizons. In this episode we explore this shifting environment with London-based James Grigor, Partner at Syzygy Investment Advisory and NZ Funds alumnus....

United States, European and Japanese share markets have delivered solid gains this year, defying global challenges. The United States economy is also showing remarkable resilience. But how can markets thrive in the face of so much uncertainty? Elections, geopolitical crises, weather events, high interest rates and inflation should all weigh on markets… shouldn’t they? Mark Brooks, Chief Investment...

With millions of Ukrainians displaced and amid constant missile attacks, former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell took action by founding Kiwi Aid & Refugee Evacuation (Kiwi K.A.R.E.). He moved to Ukraine to deliver medical and humanitarian aid to ‘Red Zones’ near the frontline. Join us for a discussion with Tenby, calling in from Warsaw, as he shares how Kiwi K.A.R.E. was born, how his military and...

Banks and financial institutions are essential for driving economic growth. Without the right policy settings in place, economies slow. We spoke with Phil Doak, Partner at Mosaic, to explore the shifting landscape that banks, insurers and fund managers are navigating, along with the key regulatory initiatives the Government has underway.

After a volatile August, the US share market is reaching new highs. Closer to home, the NZX50 is below the peak of 2021, but the market is showing signs of recovery. Mark Brooks joins Stephan Clark to break down the major factors shaping markets.

The crypto world has come a long way since Bitcoin's inception. From the early hype of altcoins to the rise of decentralised finance, crypto is rapidly evolving, challenging concepts of money and finance. Today, crypto is increasingly mainstream with a growing list of traditional financial institutions offering crypto products, such as exchange-traded crypto funds approved by the US Securities...

A decade ago, fintech was New Zealand's fifth-largest tech subsector, generating a modest $161 million in revenue. Today, it has rocketed to over $2.6 billion with an ever-growing list of ambitious entrepreneurs forging ahead. This week, we're joined by Greg Shanahan, Managing Director of the Technology Investment Network (TIN), to discuss the evolution, history and future of fintech in Ne...

This week Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Funds will join Stephan Clark to discuss the outlook for the remainder of 2024 and how NZ Funds’ Portfolios are positioned for a second half of the year that will not be short of market moving events. Mark will talk through what the United States presidential election in November is likely to mean for NZ Funds’ investors, the prospect that inte...

Recognised by Citywire as one of the top female portfolio managers globally and the only one based in Australasia, Kate Howitt built an impressive track record over 15 years managing the Australian Opportunities Fund at Fidelity International, a global investment house with over $1 trillion under management. Kate’s investment approach focused on finding attractively valued companies with strong co...

Inflation, the invisible thief, reduces the purchasing power of your money. As the cost of living increases over time, it can be a challenge to preserve the value of your savings. To address this, NZ Funds maintains the Inflation Category, a portfolio series with investments specifically selected for their ability to grow earnings above inflation over the long run. This includes global and domesti...

With over 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand, business owners eventually face the question of selling to a third party or passing the torch to a family member. Both options come with their own set of dramatic challenges and potential for great success. This week we join with leading experts for a panel discussion exploring the key factors SME business owners should co...

Financial markets often have forces pulling prices in different directions, yet there are times when they move in unison. Investors who respond to changes early and actively position their portfolio can profit from these movements. This week we discuss four market themes that are top of mind for global investors with Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Funds. We ask why the outlook for har...

Founder and Chief Investment Officer of the NASDAQ-listed Spear Alpha ETF (SPRX), Ivana Delevska built her career investing in technology companies. With experience at hedge funds like Citadel, Millennium and Tiger Management, Ivana is a sought-after speaker on tech-related topics and is often seen on Bloomberg TV. In this week’s Monday Call, we discussed the ever-changing AI landscape, a driving...

The accounting profession plays a critical role in the New Zealand economy by providing transparent financial reporting, audits, tax compliance and advice. However, the accounting sector is undergoing profound change, driven by new technologies, shifting regulations, growing complexity and evolving client demands. This week we explore this dynamic sector with special guests Matt Vincent, Scott Mas...

2024 started strongly for major share markets, with the S&P 500, Nikkei 225, and EuroStoxx 50 all posting double-digit returns in the first quarter. Rising commodity prices point to ongoing global growth. Although inflation is persisting more than central banks would like, it is trending down, which is fostering optimism about interest rate cuts. Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Fun...

After a period of summer optimism, the New Zealand economy continues to bounce along in a lull as higher interest rates bite, but there are signs of improvement. Our guest this week is Stephen Toplis, Head of Research in BNZ's Markets Division. Stephen provides economic and political insights at one of New Zealand’s largest banks and is routinely at the front line of corporate decision-making.

This week we are joined by Gary Paulin, Head of Global Strategic Solutions at Northern Trust, one of the largest banking institutions in America. Northern Trust caters to institutional investors, large corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals and has over $2 trillion in assets under management and $20 trillion under custody.