ASB Investment Podcast

Nigel Grant is joined by returning guest Gertjan Verdickt, Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Auckland, to unpack the behavioural biases quietly shaping how we invest. From why we chase yesterday's best-performing stocks to why investors sell their winners and hold onto their losers, Gertjan breaks down salience, overconfidence, selection neglect and loss aversion, and shares the simple habit that could help investors see their own decisions more clearly.

Frank and Nigel unpack the sharp correction in AI-linked memory stocks, why South Korea's market has fallen heavily from its highs, and what a resilient US earnings season means for portfolio positioning. They dig into the US Fed's decision to hold rates, why the bond market reacted sharply to comments from new chair Kevin Warsh, and what it signals about control over the inflation story. Plus, Frank breaks down how ASB weighs transition and physical climate risk in portfolios, prompted by the wildfires across Western Europe.

Nigel is joined by Will Porter, Investment Strategist at BlackRock, to unpack the BlackRock Investment Institute’s mid-year outlook and its "scarcity versus abundance" framing for the AI era. Will breaks down why the sheer scale of power, materials and capital needed for AI's build-out could intensify scarcity before any productivity payoff shows up in GDP. He also walks through BlackRock's six macro calls spanning growth, the cost of AI, interest rates, debt, geopolitics and US leadership. From the shift from "just-in-time" to "just-in-case" supply chains, to the open question of who actually captures AI's value, it's a wide-ranging look at how to build a portfolio robust enough for either path.
Important Information: This material has been created with the co-operation of BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited (BIMAL) ABN 13 006 165 975, AFSL 230 523 on Tuesday the 21st of July. Comments made by BIMAL employees here represent BIMAL’s views only, opinions are subject to change and they are not a guarantee of future results. This material provides general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or circumstances.  Before making any investment decision, you should obtain financial advice tailored to you having regard to your individual objectives, financial situation, needs and circumstances. Refer to BIMAL’s Financial Services Guide at blackrock.com/au for more information. This material is not a financial product recommendation or an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any financial product in any jurisdiction.

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.