In this edition of Fridays with Frank, Frank and Nigel dig into why inflation is back on the market's radar, what a run of bad inflation prints in the US and Europe means for interest rates, and why protecting your purchasing power is the single biggest risk long term investors face. Plus, Nvidia just reported an 85% surge in revenue, what does the world's biggest public company tell us about where AI investment is headed, and why being mostly right beats trying to be perfect with your investment strategy.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Kim Mundy to unpack the latest ASB Housing Confidence Survey. They explore how the Middle East conflict has rapidly shifted interest rate expectations, cooled house price optimism, and put a lid on a recovery that was starting to gain momentum with Auckland feeling the sharpest impact. Plus, Kim shares why despite the uncertainty, there's a silver lining for one group of Kiwi right now: first home buyers.

In this edition of Fridays with Frank. Frank & Nigel dig into why company-level AI spending is now driving the whole economy, why traditional diversification is getting harder, why rising global debt is a risk investors can't ignore and a few thoughts on what AI might be doing to us, as well as portfolios.

Host Nigel Grant is joined by ASB Senior Economist Chris Tennent-Brown to unpack the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey for the March 2026 quarter. 

They explore why global headlines from the ongoing Middle East conflict to shifting interest rate expectations are rattling investor sentiment, even as share markets push higher. 

Plus, Chris shares why the gap between how investors feel and what markets are actually doing is one of the most important things long-term investors need to understand right now.

Welcome to the very first episode of Fridays with Frank - the new short-form Friday edition of the ASB Investment Podcast.

Each week, Nigel Grant and Frank Jasper wrap up the biggest market stories of the week in a quick, conversational format designed to get you up to speed before the weekend.

In this solo episode, Nigel Grant answers some of the most common investment questions, using storytelling to unpack market volatility, interest rates, timing decisions, and more. 

Along the way, we explore:

·       Why markets react so strongly to headlines (and what Chicken Little can teach us)

·       The real risk of “waiting it out” vs staying invested.

·       What’s actually going on with interest rates and why you can’t control them.

·       The danger of chasing the “next big thing”.

·       How to think about balancing your mortgage and investments.

Retirement isn’t a finish line – it’s a whole new phase of life, and it comes with a price tag many people don’t fully anticipate. In this episode host Nigel Grant is joined by Professor Claire Matthews from Massey University to break down the true cost of retirement in New Zealand. From the impact of inflation and longer life expectancy to the role of housing, superannuation and personal spending choices, Professor Matthews explains why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all number – and why flexibility matters just as much as savings.

ASB CEO Vittoria Shortt joins host Nigel Grant for an open and thoughtful conversation on what shapes financial wellbeing in New Zealand. Vittoria reflects on the early experiences that sparked her passion for finance, why volatility is a fact of investing, and how long‑term thinking – from KiwiSaver to infrastructure – can help New Zealanders build confidence, resilience and progress over time.