The Monday Call New Zealand Funds Management Limited

Financial markets often have forces pulling prices in different directions, yet there are times when they move in unison. Investors who respond to changes early and actively position their portfolio can profit from these movements. This week we discuss four market themes that are top of mind for global investors with Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Funds.



We ask why the outlook for hard commodities is increasingly favourable, especially for copper? What positive steps is the Chinese Government exploring to tackle its property issues and sluggish economy? Why United States-based companies increasing their capital expenditure is a sign of optimism? And why is business activity in New Zealand even weaker than the headlines suggest?

Founder and Chief Investment Officer of the NASDAQ-listed Spear Alpha ETF (SPRX), Ivana Delevska built her career investing in technology companies. With experience at hedge funds like Citadel, Millennium and Tiger Management, Ivana is a sought-after speaker on tech-related topics and is often seen on Bloomberg TV.



In this week’s Monday Call, we discussed the ever-changing AI landscape, a driving force behind the strength of the United States share market. We will hear about the leading companies and the factors propelling their success. We also tackled questions on the risks of investing in AI and ask where the next wave of innovation may emerge. Join us to gain valuable insights on this fast-moving topic.

The accounting profession plays a critical role in the New Zealand economy by providing transparent financial reporting, audits, tax compliance and advice. However, the accounting sector is undergoing profound change, driven by new technologies, shifting regulations, growing complexity and evolving client demands.

This week we explore this dynamic sector with special guests Matt Vincent, Scott Mason and Andrea Waters. We will discuss the underlying trends fuelling the changes, examine the opportunities new technologies offer, and explore how societal expectations have moved, among other topics

2024 started strongly for major share markets, with the S&P 500, Nikkei 225, and EuroStoxx 50 all posting double-digit returns in the first quarter. Rising commodity prices point to ongoing global growth. Although inflation is persisting more than central banks would like, it is trending down, which is fostering optimism about interest rate cuts.

Mark Brooks, Chief Investment Officer at NZ Funds, and Stephan Clark, Chief Client Officer, discuss how NZ Funds is positioning client portfolios to capture the opportunities while managing the risks of today’s dynamic environment and why New Zealand remains an important part of a diversified portfolio.

After a period of summer optimism, the New Zealand economy continues to bounce along in a lull as higher interest rates bite, but there are signs of improvement. Our guest this week is Stephen Toplis, Head of Research in BNZ's Markets Division. Stephen provides economic and political insights at one of New Zealand’s largest banks and is routinely at the front line of corporate decision-making.

This week we are joined by Gary Paulin, Head of Global Strategic Solutions at Northern Trust, one of the largest banking institutions in America. Northern Trust caters to institutional investors, large corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals and has over $2 trillion in assets under management and $20 trillion under custody.