ASB Investment Podcast

Frank and Nigel broadcast from ASB Queenstown for a special on-location edition, joined by ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown for his first Fridays with Frank appearance. They unpack why "challenged" is the word for where New Zealand's economy sits right now, how the AI and geopolitical fragmentation mega forces are shaping that picture, and what the upcoming election could mean for long-term strategy. Plus, why 4.1% inflation still matters for investors, and the AI market rattle sparked by the latest open-source model breakthrough.

Nigel is joined by Tarryn McKenzie, General Manager of People, Finance and Business Transformation at NZ Football, to unpack what it actually costs to build a successful national football programme. Tarryn breaks down the multi-year investment behind qualifying for and preparing for a FIFA World Cup, from six-figure international windows to prize money structures and sponsorship opportunities, and explains how NZ Football balances funding across grassroots development, the All Whites and the Football Ferns at the same time. It's a reminder that, much like a well-built investment portfolio, sustained success on the pitch comes down to years of planning, patience and diversified investment behind the scenes.

Nigel and Frank go full tactics board this week, using England's World Cup semi-final as the launchpad for a deep dive into the strategic asset allocation process. From why going "all-defence" after a big goal rarely pays off, to finding the portfolio's star striker and building a squad where every asset covers for the next, it's a look at how the team balances attack and defence across market cycles. Plus, the week in markets: strong US bank earnings, a rough one for IBM, cooling inflation data, and why the Strait of Hormuz might be the wildcard substitute that changes the whole game.

Nigel Grant is joined by Kirsten "KP" Patterson, Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors (IOD), to explore what governing for growth could look like in an uncertain economic environment. Drawing on the IOD's latest thought leadership, KP unpacks why growth may not happen simply by waiting out the cycle, and why boards might need to actively govern for it rather than default to cost management alone.

Sophisticated portfolio tools once reserved for institutional investors may now be within reach of everyday retail traders, with AI agents able to monitor stocks and execute trades automatically. Frank and Nigel explore new academic research suggesting human intervention may be doing more harm than good for investors using these tools, and what it might take to find a genuine edge when everyone has access to the same technology.

ASB Investment Podcast host Nigel Grant sits down with Damien Venuto, Money Editor at Stuff, to explore how financial media shapes the way Kiwis think about money. From the fragility gripping household sentiment right now, to the dangers of following a single financial influencer, to why holding an individual stock for years may not pay off the way you think, Damien brings a sharp, independent lens to the stories behind the numbers.

Frank and Nigel look back at the quarter that's just wrapped. They cover why US stocks could have had their strongest quarter in six years, what's driving the growing gap between AI-adjacent stocks and everything else, and how small caps managed a rally that's caught a few people off guard. Frank also digs into Rocket Lab's recent moves and what they could suggest about building a durable competitive moat.

ASB Investment Podcast host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Kim Mundy to unpack New Zealand's Q1 2026 GDP result, a stronger-than-expected print that signals a broadening economic recovery, with business investment lifting and domestic demand sectors starting to stir. But with Q2 already shaping up to contract, how fragile is that momentum? Kim breaks down what the numbers mean for households, businesses, and the RBNZ, and why the Strait of Hormuz may matter more to your mortgage than the GDP headline itself.

Frank & Nigel unpack the life and legacy of Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chair who presided over 18 years of markets, coined the "Greenspan put," and left behind one of the most complicated legacies in modern economic history. They explore why Fed policy still moves markets more than almost anything else, what Greenspan got right and where his laissez-faire instincts led markets astray, and what the arrival of new Fed chair Kevin Warsh could mean for investors navigating the months ahead.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by Lee Marshall, Managing Partner at Hunter Campbell and founder of the Mood of the CFO report, and Scott Maud, CFO of Halter, to unpack the headline findings from the 2026 edition of New Zealand's most comprehensive survey of finance leaders. They explore why NZ businesses are outperforming expectations despite a darkening global outlook, how CFOs are balancing cost discipline with genuine investment in growth and AI, and what the data says about succession planning as a persistent blind spot. Scott also shares what it looks like to scale AI in practice inside a fast-growing tech business, and why the CFOs thriving right now are the ones who've made peace with uncertainty rather than waiting for it to clear.

Halfway through the year, Nigel Grant and ASB Chief Investment Officer Frank Jasper unpack global investment firm, KKR's mid-year outlook and the big themes shaping markets right now, geopolitical fragmentation and supply chain "choke points," the AI-driven productivity boom that could be underestimated, and what KKR calls a "higher resting heart rate" for inflation.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by Jessica Palalagi, Director of The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and Amehl Smith, ASB's Head of Private Banking and lead for the bank's new partnership with the Foundation, to explore another type of investing that extends far beyond markets and portfolios - the investment in art, creativity, and people. They explore why ASB chose to back the Foundation, what makes investing in artists different to funding a specific project, and the surprising parallels between building an art collection and building a portfolio. Jessica also shares practical ways anyone can start supporting the arts, no matter their budget, and why simply showing up might be the most powerful investment of all.

It's Friday, and Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Chief Investment Officer Frank Jasper to make sense of a turbulent week in markets, particularly in the AI and semiconductor space.Frank breaks down the four factors behind the selloff, explores where long-term value in the AI economy could actually land (and why it may not be where most people expect), and explains how ASB's portfolios are currently navigating the noise, staying invested in the theme, but looking beyond the most overheated corners of the market.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by author and gender equity specialist Angela Meyer, co-founder of Hi Money and co-author of best selling book Money, Money, Money - to unpack why women consistently retire with less than men and what's really behind it. They explore the emotional and psychological side of money, the systemic barriers that compound over a lifetime, and what financial institutions could be doing better. Angela also shares practical first steps for women at any stage of their financial journey, and why talking about money openly might be the most important thing you can do.

Frank and Nigel dig into the three biggest IPOs on everyone's radar right now — SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI. Frank shares the framework he uses to evaluate any company coming to market: quality, growth and value. They cover why IPOs have historically been a tricky proposition for investors, what makes this particular crop of floats unlike anything seen before, and how the major indices could become forced buyers of these stocks, pushing prices in ways that may have little to do with the underlying fundamentals. Plus, Frank's simple but powerful habit that could sharpen your thinking on any investment decision.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown to make sense of a week that gave Kiwi plenty to digest. They cover the RBNZ's split committee vote that may signal rate hikes are closer than many expected and turn to the 2026 Budget, which Chris describes as "prudent and boring" (and why that might actually be good news). They also explore what rising short-term interest rates could mean for borrowers and savers, and why sticking to a long-term strategy still matters more than trying to pick the top or bottom.

In this edition of Fridays with Frank, Frank and Nigel dig into the SpaceX IPO, why it could be an AI and data centre story in disguise and what history tells us about IPO performance. Plus, the RBNZ rate decision and the knife edge the Reserve Bank now has to walk between inflation and a struggling domestic economy. Also, why the gap between NZ companies thriving offshore and those fighting the domestic headwinds is widening and what it could mean for your portfolio.

Host Nigel Grant flies solo this episode to strip investing back to its roots. Using [his green thumb] as a guide, Nigel unpacks the core ideas every investor should have in their toolkit: what investing is really for, how to think about risk and return, why diversification matters, and the power of compounding. He also tackles one of the most common investing mistakes and shares why the patient gardener always outlasts the panicking neighbour. 

In this edition of Fridays with Frank, Frank and Nigel dig into why inflation is back on the market's radar, what a run of bad inflation prints in the US and Europe means for interest rates, and why protecting your purchasing power is the single biggest risk long term investors face. Plus, Nvidia just reported an 85% surge in revenue, what does the world's biggest public company tell us about where AI investment is headed, and why being mostly right beats trying to be perfect with your investment strategy.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Kim Mundy to unpack the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey. They explore how the Middle East conflict has rapidly shifted interest rate expectations, cooled house price optimism, and put a lid on a recovery that was starting to gain momentum with Auckland feeling the sharpest impact. Plus, Kim shares why despite the uncertainty, there's a silver lining for one group of Kiwi right now: first home buyers.

In this edition of Fridays with Frank. Frank & Nigel dig into why company-level AI spending is now driving the whole economy, why traditional diversification is getting harder, why rising global debt is a risk investors can't ignore and a few thoughts on what AI might be doing to us, as well as portfolios.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown to unpack the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey for the March 2026 quarter. They explore why global headlines from the ongoing Middle East conflict to shifting interest rate expectations are rattling investor sentiment, even as share markets push higher. Plus, Chris shares why the gap between how investors feel and what markets are actually doing is one of the most important things long-term investors need to understand right now.

In this solo episode, Nigel Grant answers some of the most common investment questions, using storytelling to unpack market volatility, interest rates, timing decisions, and more. Along the way, we explore:·       Why markets react so strongly to headlines (and what Chicken Little can teach us)·       The real risk of “waiting it out” vs staying invested.·       What’s actually going on with interest rates and why you can’t control them.·       The danger of chasing the “next big thing”.·       How to think about balancing your mortgage and investments.