Market & Portfolio Update - February 2022
Global share markets fell modestly in February (3%), with uncertainty regarding Ukraine tensions weighing on the market in the lead up to the invasion. While New Zealand and Australian share markets posted positive returns, being further from the conflict and experiencing the latest financial reporting season. Overall, the financial results have been positive, contributing to the 0.7% and 2% returns for the New Zealand and Australian sharemarkets.
The conflict has put upward pressure on oil prices, with the international benchmark Brent Crude rising above USD 100 for the first time since 2014. Russia is a major oil exporter, supplying around 25% of Europe’s oil. Oil and gas have not been included in sanctions to date, and it is still in the interests of Russia’s economy to continue exporting to Europe. However, as we know, this situation is dynamic, and oil prices could rise further if caught up in the conflict.
In New Zealand, the Reserve Bank hiked the Official Cash Rate 0.25% as expected – taking the rate to 1%. The Reserve Bank’s updated forecasts now show the OCR reaching 2.6% by the middle of next year. However, this is subject to how the Ukraine invasion develops.
Maximise Your Miles: Financial Tips for Frequent Flyers
Whether you’re a young Kiwi planning your OE (overseas experience), a family about to embark on that long-awaited trip to Disneyland, or a seasoned business traveller hopping between meetings in Singapore and Sydney, the excitement of travel is unbeatable. But with every adventure comes a bit of financial planning to ensure your holiday memories aren’t clouded by an unexpected hit to the wallet.
Market & Portfolio Update - January 2026
After strong gains in 2025, the global share market (represented by the MSCI World Gross Index) took a breather in January, returning 0.1% in NZ dollar terms. While the ‘Magnificent 7’ (the seven largest US-listed companies, including Google, Microsoft & Apple) have been large drivers behind the recent gains seen from the US share market, January told a different story. There appeared to be ‘catch-up’ trade where investors moved out of concentrated tech positions and into the rest of the market, with the Russell 2000 index (a widely regarded proxy for smaller US companies) having a strong month. This was generally seen as improving confidence in the broader US economy.