ASB Investment Podcast

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.

Welcome to the very first episode of Fridays with Frank - the new short-form Friday edition of the ASB Investment Podcast.
 
Each week, Nigel Grant and Frank Jasper wrap up the biggest market stories of the week in a quick, conversational format designed to get you up to speed before the weekend.

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.