Cracking the interest rate code | A research-driven approach for smarter portfolios

Interest rates remain one of the most powerful forces shaping investment outcomes, and understanding the four phases of the interest-rate cycle (hiking, peak, cutting and the flat bottom) is key to navigating markets. Each phase affects share market performance and sector leadership in patterns that have repeated across multiple cycles.To help investors make the most of these opportunities, NZ Funds has developed the Interest Rate Investment Strategy (IRIS), a research-driven framework that guides sector positioning as the cycle moves. This week, we look at why the strategy was developed, how it is currently being implemented, and what it tells us about expected equity returns across New Zealand, Australia and the United States.In a world where interest-rate sensitivity creates both risks and opportunities, IRIS offers a clear, practical way to strengthen decision-making, build resilience, and stay positioned for what comes next. Join hosts James Grigor, Investment Strategist, Stephan Clark, Chief Client Officer, and special guest Charlie Astwick, Investment Analyst, as they share insights from NZ Funds’ latest research and discuss what the future path of interest rates may mean for investors.