Markets, Mystics and Mayhem

We talk interest rates, with a hawk

The Reserve Bank’s official cash rate is meant to help keep the Kiwi economy stable. We talk about the optimal cash rate and make some calls with Kiwibank Rates Trader, Graham Hughes. International rates have an impact on the Kiwi through currency moves. Rates differentials between NZ and Aussie are no exception. A move higher in Kiwi rates at a time when the Aussies have finished hiking could drive moves the NZD/AUD cross. On one point we agree with a hawkish Graham, rate hikes will have to be part of the RBNZ story in the future. The question is how soon? And how high should rates go? Hosted by Jarrod Kerr and Alexandra Turcu. Follow our economic commentary & insights here [https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/thrive-hq/kiwi-economics/]. Any views or information shared in this podcast, while given in good faith, aren't necessarily the view of Kiwibank.

Housing Peaks, Plateaus and a Growing Gap

We have some market mayhem to discuss, the US payroll data printed higher than expected, sending the S&P500 down 2% in a single day. We talk about the Fed and the RBNZ and much more. The AI bubble is still propping up the US share markets, but a lot of funding is being syphoned out of other areas to feed the AI machine. When will we actually see the efficiencies and profits boom off the back of this investment? Back home we have a widening gap in house prices between the North and South. We have the Central Otago and the Lakes districts where asking prices are more than 20% higher than a year ago. While the rest of the market tracks sideways. Hosted by Jarrod Kerr and Alexandra Turcu. Follow our economic commentary & insights here [https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/thrive-hq/kiwi-economics/]. Any views or information shared in this podcast, while given in good faith, aren't necessarily the view of Kiwibank.

Rate hikes and budget cuts. More pain, less gain.

A big week of information to reflect on. The OCR and the Budget 2026 both out last week. Neither extremely surprising, but both giving us (and markets) plenty to digest. We dive into the forecasting scenarios of the RBNZ and Treasury. One side is too pessimistic, the other too optimistic. We feel like Goldilocks trying to find the one that’s just right. Uncertainty is still the word of the day – probably the year. An oil crisis that just doesn’t want to end, coming in an election year, and unpredictable weather events to top it all off. Hosted by Jarrod Kerr and Alexandra Turcu. Follow our economic commentary & insights here [https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/thrive-hq/kiwi-economics/]. Any views or information shared in this podcast, while given in good faith, aren't necessarily the view of Kiwibank.

It’s very NEET! High hurdles for tertiary education

Special guest alert! Cristóbal Castro Barrientos, PhD candidate at AUT and researcher at the NZ Policy Research Institute, joins us to talk about the tertiary sector. Education uptake and economic conditions are counter-cyclical. When the economy is down, enrolment in education goes up, and vice versa. In the middle of an oil crisis and off the back of two years of recession, enrolment should be surging. The fees-free policy, making first year university free, fell short. The policy didn’t address the immediate barriers to education, most of all: the higher cost of living. Hosted by Jarrod Kerr and Alexandra Turcu. Follow our economic commentary & insights here [https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/thrive-hq/kiwi-economics/]. Any views or information shared in this podcast, while given in good faith, aren't necessarily the view of Kiwibank.

The name is Bond, US Bond. The canary in the coal mine.

We’ve got a very special guest joining us in this episode. We talk about the financial market mayhem, currencies, and what it all means for Kiwi customers and the economy. Tim Olphert is the head of our financial markets team and has been with Kiwibank for a year. Tim has 25 years of experience in executive leadership in banking and finance.There’s a lot of pain in the economy right now. And interest rate hikes are not what we need given the pressure businesses are facing. Our view is unchanged, and we’ve added a new voice to the chorus. There’s a new Bond story in town. US 10-year bonds going higher are the canary in the coal mine for what’s coming for the US equity market and to the global economy. If the S&P500 takes a turn, Trump may finally chicken out… Hosted by Jarrod Kerr and Alexandra Turcu. Follow our economic commentary & insights here [https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/thrive-hq/kiwi-economics/]. Any views or information shared in this podcast, while given in good faith, aren't necessarily the view of Kiwibank.