On Point
Episodes
ep 149 | Will lacklustre results make way for optimism?
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The local reporting season wrapped up last week and while it wasn’t terrible, we saw a lacklustre set of releases and company updates. Many of our l...
do 148 | The week ahead - Jerome Powell, the jobs report and 'Super Tuesday'
03 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was another good one for global sharemarkets, with further highs for indices in the US and Japan, and solid performances elsewhere too. The ...
ep 147 | What might the US election mean for the sharemarket?
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we look ahead to the US presidential election in November, many will be pondering how this might influence the investment outlook. The election is ...
ep 146 | The week ahead - will the Reserve Bank increase the OCR this week?
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US rose 1.7% last week, closing at a new record high partly on the back of another very strong result from NVIDIA. The chipmake...
ep 145 | High share prices don’t always mean expensive
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some investors baulk when they see a high share price, but they shouldn’t. A company’s share price tells us absolutely nothing about whether it’...
ep 145 | The week ahead
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Monetary policy will remain in focus this week, with the minutes of the last Federal Reserve meeting due for release as well as the ECB's account of i...
ep 143 | The week ahead
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What a week! We saw the S&P 500 sharemarket index in the US rise another 1.4%, closing at a fresh record high and pushing through 5000 points for the ...
EPS 144 | Is it too late to buy US stocks?
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The US market has had a stunning run over the past year or so. The S&P 500 index peaked in January 2022, before declining 25.4 per cent over the f...
EPS 142 | Are ETFs a gamechanger for Bitcoin?
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin took a big step forward last month, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US finally giving approval for exchange traded funds to...
EPS 141 | The week ahead
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US rose another 1.4% last week, closing at fresh highs on the back of impressive earnings releases (including a very strong one fro...
EPS 140 | Is a soft landing upon us?
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s starting to look like the US Federal Reserve might’ve done the impossible (or at least the very rare) and achieved a soft landing. If that’...
EPS 139 | The week ahead
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was a very good one for world sharemarkets. The S&P 500 in the US posted a 1.1% gain, having hit a new record high this month as inflati...
EPS 138 | Are you prepared for a fall in income?
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Short-term deposits are offering great value right now, but don’t get too content. Within six months interest rates could be headed lower, and after...
EPS 136 | New Year encore - Should I pay off the mortgage, or invest?
13 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should I pay off the mortgage faster, or use that extra cash to invest? This is a very common question, but it’s especially relevant today. Mortgage...
ep 134 | Six big questions for investors in 2024
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to On Point in 2024. In our first new episode of the year, we'll ponder some of the key questions investors are asking themselves at the ...
EPS 133 | New Year encore - Jump right into the market, or sit tight until later?
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re lucky enough to have a bit of surplus cash at the moment, it’s a difficult time to think about putting it to work. You want your hard-ea...
EPS 132 | New Year encore - Why the sharemarket is nothing like a casino
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This was a popular episode from 2023, and its messages are still very relevant for newer investors, as well as those with more experience. Take a list...
EPS 131 | Recapping the key market moves of 2023
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
2023 is done and dusted, and while it was challenging at times, as well as eventful, it ultimately proved to be a very lucrative year for investors. S...
EPS 130 | Looking ahead to 2024
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re on the home stretch, and 2023 has been a surprisingly good year for investors. Conservative assets have returned to form with a five per cent ...
EPS 129 | The week ahead
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was another good one for investors, with shares and fixed income rising further. The S&P 500 in the US posted a 0.2% gain, finishing at ...
EPS 128 | A November to remember
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
November lived up to its name as a very good month for investors. World shares were up 9.3 per cent, the best return in three years. The S&P 500 i...
EPS 127 | The week ahead
03 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
November lived up to its name as a very good month for sharemarkets around the world, with the S&P 500 rallying 8.9% and the NZX 50 posting an imp...
EPS 126 | Average sharemarket returns are great, but returns are rarely average
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shares have delivered impressive long-term returns. The US is the biggest market in the world, and its long history lends itself well to analysis. Bet...
EPS 125 | The week ahead
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's no shortage of things to watch this week, with Wednesday’s Reserve Bank meeting (which is the last of the year) likely to be the main ev...
EPS 123 | The week ahead
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
US shares had another very strong week, with the S&P 500 rising 2.2%. The index is up 7.6% in November and on track for its best month in more tha...
EPS 122 | The diversification dilemma
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many principles of investing are considered compulsory, and one of these is the need for diversification. It can mean spreading your capital over diff...
EPS 121 | The week ahead
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The key economic release this week will be the October inflation report in the US. Due Tuesday, the headline consumer price index is expected to slow ...
EPS 120 | Policymakers face a balancing act as unemployment rises
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Investors have been heartened by reports of softer economic conditions, an easing labour market and slowing wage growth in both New Zealand and the US...
EPS 119 | Will last week's market rebound continue?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global sharemarkets have had a difficult few months, with the S&P 500 in the US and the NZX 50 here in New Zealand falling more than ten per cent ...
EPS 118 | The week ahead
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global sharemarkets rebounded strongly last week, with investors encouraged by softer economic indicators and evidence of easing labour markets that c...
EPS 117 | Is the NZX headed for an unwanted three-peat?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a solid first half of the year, it’s been a difficult few months for the local sharemarket. The NZX 50 has fallen more than ten per cent since...
EPS 116 | The week ahead
29 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global sharemarkets remain under pressure, with the S&P 500 in the US and the NZX 50 in New Zealand both down more than 10% since July. Rising glo...
EPS 115 | The sharemarket is nothing like a casino
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of our least favourite sharemarket analogies is when it’s said to be just like a casino. While some traders might treat their portfolio like a s...
EPS 113 | Should borrowers fix or float, and for how long?
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether to fix or float, and for how long is a common question for borrowers to ask. With interest rates at 15-year highs and household budgets consid...
EPS 112 | The week ahead
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's plenty to monitor in the week ahead, with Federal Reserve officials in focus as six of the seven Board members speak publicly before the b...
EPS 111 | Election 2023 - A mood for change wins the day
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A change of government was confirmed last night, with Christopher Luxon from the National Party set to be our new Prime Minister. Preliminary figures ...
EPS 110 | The rise and rise of global bond yields
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The biggest story across financial markets in recent weeks has been rising bond yield. This has pushed up borrowing costs across the board, and sent m...
EPS 109 | What might the conflict in the Middle East mean for markets?
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The military conflict in the Middle East over the weekend has added to the list of geopolitical worries, and led to a fresh bout of volatility across ...
EPS 108 | The week ahead
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're back after a week away and there's no shortage of action across financial markets to talk about! Another busy week looms, with a crucial...
EPS 107 | Don't squander these high interest rates
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to investments, shares and property get most of the attention. However, fixed income is equally as important to the average investor, ma...
EPS 106 | The week ahead
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global inflation trends will be in focus in the days head, after a flurry of central bank decisions last week that saw the "higher for longer&quo...
EPS 105 | Why so gloomy? It's not all bad out there
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It feels a little gloomy at the moment. Investors are on the sidelines, many economists seem more downbeat than usual, and the sharemarket has been un...
EPS 104 | The week ahead
16 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle up for another action packed week across financial markets! Three of the world's biggest central banks are meeting, including the Federal R...
EPS 103 | Has the labour market reached a turning point?
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The last few years have been very strong for the US labour market, as well as here in New Zealand. Unemployment has been extremely low, wage growth ha...
EPS 102 | The week ahead
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As always, there's plenty going across financial markets this week. Here in New Zealand, we’ll get the latest migration estimates, as well as el...
EPS 101 | Is India the new China?
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China has been a powerhouse of global growth in recent decades, and investors seeking the excitement and opportunity of emerging markets haven’t nee...
EPS 100 | The week ahead
02 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US rose 2.5% last week, its best weekly performance in almost three months. That wasn’t enough to see the US market finish Au...
Will we see a post-election sharemarket rally?
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With just six weeks to go until the election, the local sharemarket seems to be in a bit of a funk. There are a number of reasons for this, and uncert...
The week ahead
26 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are plenty of important economic releases due in the US this week, with the August jobs report and July PCE inflation figures of most interest. ...
Why is August proving tough for markets?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a stellar first seven months of the year, August is proving to be more challenging for investors. US shares are down about four per cent this mo...
The week ahead
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's an awful lot happening across financial markets at the moment. US shares have fallen for three weeks in a row, while 10-year Treasury yiel...
Quick take - today's Reserve Bank decision and what it means
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand left the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% today, having increased it at 12 consecutive meetings between October 20...
What does the dairy downturn mean for investors?
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dairy prices have been trending lower for the past 18 months, and the declines have gathered pace in recent weeks. This will impact the broader econ...
The week ahead
12 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The US consumer will be in focus this week with retail sales for July out on Tuesday, as well as earnings releases from Home Depot and Walmart. Follow...
What to watch this earnings season
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The reporting season kicks off next week and we can expect a plethora of releases across the NZX. About two thirds of the companies on our market will...
The week ahead
05 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US fell 2.3% last week, its worst performance in almost five months. After a stellar run that’s seen the US market rebound mo...
The secret to successful share investing
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
August is “Money Month”, an annual public awareness campaign run by Te Ara Ahunga Ora (the Retirement Commission) to help improve financial wellbe...
The week ahead
29 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US rose another 1.0% last week, following more evidence inflation is coming under control and in the wake of more solid earning...
What might the election mean for markets?
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The election is less than three months away, the campaign is heating up and political experts are speculating on what the makeup of our next governmen...
The week ahead
22 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
World sharemarkets remained in an upbeat mood last week, with the S&P 500 in the US rising another 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up te...
Baffled by where these markets might go next? You're not alone.
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re feeling a little confused about where global sharemarkets are headed, you’re not alone. Even the experts are unsure, with the range of p...
The week ahead
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was a very strong one for global sharemarkets, as investors cheered a softer than expected US inflation report that fuelled hopes interest r...
All eyes on earnings season
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The international quarterly reporting season kicked off a few days ago, and over the next few weeks this will be a focal point for share investors. Th...
The recession that wasn't
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand's gross domestic product declined in the three months to March 2023, making for the second consecutive quarter of contraction. Since t...
The week ahead
08 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global sharemarkets took a breather last week, with most falling slightly after a very strong first half of the year. Meanwhile, interest rates pushed...
After a solid first half, what might the next six months bring?
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last year was a difficult one for investors across the board. Against that backdrop, this year looked set to be another challenging one, with slower e...
The week ahead
24 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The S&P 500 in the US fell 1.4% last week, after five consecutive weekly gains that saw the index rise to its highest level since April 2022 at th...
Is the US dollar at risk of being dethroned?
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The US dollar has been the world’s reserve currency for close to 80 years. It started to displace the British pound in the 1920s, and secured the un...
The week ahead
17 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was another strong week for sharemarkets around the world, once again led by the US. The S&P 500 posted its fifth consecutive weekly gain, which se...
House prices have bottomed, but where might they go from here?
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After falling for the past 18 months, it’s starting to look like the housing market is beginning to stabilise. The Real Estate Institute’s nationa...
The week ahead
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was another strong one for US shares. The S&P 500 in the US posted its fourth consecutive weekly gain, with a rise of 0.4%.That sees it ...
Should I pay off the mortgage, or invest?
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should I pay off the mortgage faster, or use that extra cash to invest? This is always a common question, but it’s especially relevant today. Mortga...
The week ahead
04 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week was another strong one for US shares, with the S&P 500 rising 1.8% to its highest level since August 2022. Investors celebrated a resolu...
What might a central bank pause mean for markets?
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) and the Federal Reserve in the US both increased interest rates again last month. You can never be sure, but th...
The week ahead
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It will be a holiday-shortened week in the US and the UK, with both markets closed on Monday. However, there's still plenty for investors to keep ...
Markets are quiet, a little too quiet
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
World sharemarkets have been remarkably calm in recent weeks, despite plenty of uncertainty around. Inflation is still stubbornly high, nor is it comp...
The week ahead
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After all the excitement of Budget 2023, this week we’ll see how the Reserve Bank of New Zealand feels about a little more stimulus than many had ex...
Relax, AI isn't taking your job (yet)
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is one of the hottest topics around at the moment. We've all heard of ChatGPT, which can help you with your homewo...
The week ahead
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are several important economic releases to monitor this week, including US retail sales and Chinese activity indicators for April. On the centra...
Is a recession possible with unemployment this low?
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We got some fresh unemployment figures last week, for both New Zealand and the US. In both cases, the upshot was that the labour market is still extre...
The week ahead
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Banking sector woes, worries about the US debt ceiling and a string of interest rate hikes from the world's central banks are keeping markets nerv...
Jump right into the market, or sit tight until later?
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re lucky enough to have a bit of surplus cash at the moment, it’s a difficult time to think about putting it to work. You want your hard-ea...
The week ahead
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The month of April proved to be another strong one for equity markets across the world, ensuring that the run of good returns investors have enjoyed s...
Are tax changes back on the table?
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The eagerly awaited Inland Revenue tax research report was released on Wednesday. Revenue Minister David Parker has suggested this provides evidence t...
The week ahead
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses New Zealand's lower than expected inflation in the March quarter and what i...
What sort of returns are you “really” getting on your money?
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, will explain the difference between nominal returns and real returns and why investors need...
The week ahead
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how global sharemarkets have staged a strong rebound of late. Despite a lot of v...
Tips for nervous newer investors
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how it’s been a difficult ride for all investors, but particularly those who a...
What does the banking crisis mean for markets?
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how the last couple of weeks have been extremely volatile. Silicon Valley Bank an...
The week ahead
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how stability returned to global sharemarkets last week, as fears of a banking c...
The week ahead
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank roiled markets and the risk of contagion...
The week ahead
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how it was a rough week for global markets, with some strong words from Fed Chai...
The week ahead
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how it was another action packed-week across financial markets, with the S&P...
Recapping financial market moves in February
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how February was a busy month for financial markets, both offshore and here in Ne...
The week ahead
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how world sharemarkets were down, after a hotter than expected inflation report ...
What’s in an index?
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this mid-week podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how you’ll often hear us talking about “the market”, and whether i...
The week ahead
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how a busy week looms, with the Reserve Bank set to announce its latest interest...
What will the Reserve Bank do next?
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how the Reserve Bank will release its latest interest rate decision on Wednesday,...
The week ahead
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our podcast this week, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how lots is going on across financial markets, especially when it comes to corpo...
Cash, bonds or shares – where are the best opportunities for income investors today?
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this mid-week podcast episode, Mark Lister, Investment Director, discusses how interest rates are proving problematic for over-leveraged borrowers ...