What happens when bond markets become the main driver of investor sentiment? In this edition of the InvestNow Market Wrap-Up, Alistair Dring, Assistant Portfolio Manager, Mint Diversified Funds at Mint Asset Management, examines the events that shaped July and the signals emerging from global markets.

Blame it on the bonds

If you watched only one number in July, it should have been that of the long-dated bond. Government bond yields are where […]

Fear, FOMO and Fundamentals

Global equities produced strong gains during the June quarter, even as investors grappled with Middle East tensions, volatile oil prices and uncertainty around inflation and interest rates. Greg Fleming, Head of Diversified Funds at Salt Funds Management (Salt), reviews the key market developments and considers what they may mean for investors going forward.

Despite some modest softness in June month in the US markets, global financial markets delivered another […]

Signs of Calm as Markets Recover Momentum

Global markets appeared to regain momentum in May, supported by strong earnings and easing geopolitical tensions. While risks remain, the backdrop improved for investors. Del Hart shares what drove markets, what it means, and the key themes to watch next.

Introduction

May 2026 saw global markets resume a risk-on tone after a turbulent period of trade policy and geopolitical uncertainty. Strong corporate earnings – particularly from technology […]

Why markets keep rising despite global uncertainty

Amova Asset Management’s Portfolio Manager, Alan Clarke, shares his take on April’s strong market rebound and the key forces driving returns. From geopolitical tensions to the ongoing rise of AI, he explains why short-term market swings can distract from what really matters – long-term earnings growth.

Market Recap

As at the close of April global equities were up just over 6% in local currency terms for the […]

Property Markets Under Pressure: Why Uncertainty Is Weighing on New Zealand Housing

Squirrel’s Chief Operating Officer Dave Tyrer explains why recent volatility is stalling New Zealand’s housing recovery – and why income focused investors may still find opportunity as interest rates rise.

A Cautious Start to March for Property Markets

• After seeing early signs of recovery in late 2025 / early 2026, weakness has returned to New Zealand’s housing market.
• Global uncertainty is the […]
  

Volatility, rotation and keeping perspective

Pie Funds’ founder and Chief Investment Officer Mike Taylor explains why February’s market rotation is a reminder that sentiment can shift quickly – but fundamentals rarely move as fast as prices.

A complicated start to March

By the time you’re reading this it’s mid-late March and the world looks even more complicated than it did at the end of February.

A war has erupted in the Middle East. Oil prices have swung sharply as markets try to assess whether […]

InvestNow Market Wrap-Up: Special Edition 2025 Review & 2026 Outlook

Welcoming Kady Buchanan, Head of Intermediary Clients at Milford, as this month’s guest author of the InvestNow Market Wrap-Up.

Looking Back at 2025 and How Markets Are Taking Shape in 2026

2025 felt fast, noisy, and occasionally disorienting. It was a year in which trends moved at the speed of social media, geopolitical developments and policy decisions shaped headlines for weeks at a time, […]

InvestNow Market Wrap-Up: October 2025

Welcoming Mark Donnell, Director at Lighthouse Funds, as this month’s guest author of the InvestNow Market Wrap-Up.

Climbing The Wall of Worry

Through October it seemed like nearly every financial news site ran at least one story asking whether US equity markets are in a bubble – more specifically an AI bubble – and whether that might mean markets are too frothy and might be at risk of a […]

InvestNow Market Wrap-Up: September 2025

Welcoming Tom Deacon, Assistant Portfolio Manager at Mint, as this month’s guest author of the InvestNow Market Wrap-Up.

Rates Divergence, Parabolic AI, and U.S. Policy

Markets Snapshot

September was a mixed month for global markets. U.S. equities extended their run with the S&P 500 up ~3.6% as investors saw a relatively robust economy supported by dominant AI. Europe gained modestly, while Japan and emerging markets paused after strong prior months. Australia went the other way – the S&P/ASX 200 fell […]

InvestNow Market Wrap-Up: August 2025

Welcoming back Greg Smith, Investment Specialist, at Generate, as this month’s guest author of the InvestNow Market Wrap-Up.

Up in the clouds

Global equities rose strongly in August, led by the US markets. The S&P 500 gained 1.9% and the Nasdaq 1.6%, both reaching record highs (and pushing further into blue sky territory in September). Optimism was driven by a robust US earnings season, upbeat guidance, and ongoing enthusiasm for […]