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New probate threshold in New Zealand

On 24 September 2025, the Administration (Prescribed Amounts) Regulations 2009 were amended to allow the release funds of up to $40,000 directly to a deceased person’s family or other eligible persons

Market update - 1 June to 30 Sept

The technology sector led the gains, supported by easing tariff concerns that helped markets recover from temporary setbacks caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East

Market volatility –what you need to know

Market volatility has dominated the news cycle in early 2025, and although market fluctuations are a normal part of long-term investing.

Market Indicators – 31 December 2024

For investors, the economic situation in December 2024 presented a challenging environment.

Market Indicators – 30 November 2024

Global equities and fixed income markets posted positive returns in November, driven by the strong performance of US share markets following Donald Trump's decisive victory.

Market Indicators – 31 October 2024

In October, both stocks and bonds lost value. However, US stocks did better than international stocks and emerging market stocks.

Market update-period ended 30 Sept 2024

During the September quarter, interest rate cuts were a hot topic as many global economies like the US, key countries in the Eurozone and New Zealand started to lower their rates.

Mercer Overseas Shares Portfolio

For the quarter ended 30 September 2024, the Mercer Overseas Shares Plus Fund returned 1.6% and the Mercer Hedged Overseas Shares Plus Fund returned 5.5%.

Market Indicators – 30 September 2024

During the month, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) lowered interest rates by 0.5% due to weaker economic data, which included modest growth in non- farm jobs and a limited number of job openings.

Market Indicators – 31 August 2024

In August, the market became more volatile as investors dealt with concerning economic data from the US.

Market Indicators – 31 July 2024

July was a significant month for markets, as the all-time highs we've seen throughout 2024 came to an end.

Market Indicators – 30 June 2024

In June, global equities continued to rise. This was due to strong corporate earnings and progress in controlling inflation.

Market update-period ending 31 May 2024

March saw international equities extend their recent gains, with the MSCI World Index up 3.4% (in local currency) for the month, despite an increase in US inflation for the second month in a row.

Market Indicators – 31 May 2024

In May, strong corporate earnings and positive economic data contributed to the rise of both equities and fixed income investments.

Market Indicators – 30 April 2024

In April, the rally in equities came to an end. This was due to persistent inflation and a sharp slowdown in US GDP growth, which weighed heavily on market sentiment.

Market Indicators – 31 March 2024

In March, investors who remained optimistic were rewarded as stock markets continued to rise despite an increase in US inflation for the second consecutive month and a slowdown in consumer spending.

Market Indicators – 29 February 2024

February was a remarkable month, with strong economic data and positive earnings reports leading to the Standard and Poor’s 500 (a stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S)

Market update - 29 February 2024

The last quarter of 2023 began in a similar way to how the previous quarter ended, with some ups and downs in the stock markets.

Market Indicators – 31 January 2024

In 2024, the share market had a strong start, with equities (shares) continuing to rise in value. However, fixed income assets (such as bonds) struggled to keep up.

Market Indicators – 31 December 2023

In 2023, global stocks and bonds had a strong end to the year, with prices rising throughout the final month.

Market Indicators – 30 November 2023

In November, both stocks and bonds had a strong recovery after a period of uncertainty. This was mainly due to the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged.

Market Indicators – 31 October 2023

US interest rates are likely to remain higher for a longer period owing to stronger than predicted US GDP and employment growth.

Market update - 30 September 2023

Despite a great start in July, both equities and bonds ended the September quarter (Q3) on a low note, supporting the latter month’s reputation for delivering seasonally weaker returns.

Market Indicators – 30 September 2023

An investor labelled “September Effect” was possibly a cause for the negative share market performance during the month, as stock returns fell back further and bond yields rose once again.

Market Indicators - 31 August 2023

As we’ve seen in the past, when China experiences economic turmoil, the rest of the world is likely to feel its effects.

Market Indicators – 31 July 2023

With the often discussed ‘soft-landing’ scenario becoming more of a possibility, investors may have found themselves in an unlikely bull market.

Market Indicators – 30 June 2023

In June, global share markets showed strength with returns largely driven by players in ‘big tech’ alongside consumer discretionary, industrials and the materials sector.

Market Update-period ending 31 May 2023

2023 started positively as capital markets experienced their strongest January gains in recent years. The ‘risk-on’ sentiment resumed as inflation continued to moderate in developed regions

Market Indicators - 31 May 2023

Global share markets experienced a negative performance this month as investor sentiment was dampened by concerns over US debt ceiling negotiations.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2023

Despite concerns about a possible recession, investor sentiment remained largely positive in April. Investors were initially spooked as minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s (‘Fed’) March meeting.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2023

Global share markets were positive despite the turmoil that engulfed the banking industry.

Market Indicators – 28 February 2023

Investor skepticism over intentions to fight inflation, led to a month of mostly declines in global share markets.

Market update- 31 December 2022

After negative returns in August and September across most asset classes.

Market Indicators – 31 January 2023

Global share markets started the New Year with a bang, showcasing a strong rally off the back of a weak December.

Market Indicators – 31 December 2022

December saw global share markets retreat from advances made in November, continuing their recent ‘see-sawing’ pattern. Fears of a recession and earnings risks remained.

Market Indicators – 30 November 2022

Global share markets continued to deliver positive returns in November, which was a result of better than expected Consumer Price Index (‘CPI’) readings in the US.

Market Indicators – 31 October 2022

October was a positive month for investors, as we saw share markets recovering.

Market Indicators - 30 September 2022

Global share markets continued their decline in September, with the S&P 500 index suffering its worst one-day sell-off since June 2020.

Market Indicators – 31 August 2022

After a rebound in July, which continued into early August, global share markets saw a broad-based sell-off following US Federal Reserve (‘Fed’) Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks at the Jackson Hole.

Market Indicators - 31 July 2022

Global share markets experienced a significant rebound in July, after the June lows.

Market Indicators – 30 June 2022

Global share markets suffered another negative month as a slight rebound experienced at the end of May faded.

Market Indicators – 31 May 2022

Global share markets experienced another difficult month, as markets continued to digest a fast changing economic environment. With weaker than expected global activity in April.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2022

Global equity markets had their most difficult month since March 2020 as the confluence of global central banks tightening monetary policy.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2022

We saw ‘lift-off’ in March as the Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised the federal funds rate (the target rate that banks pay to borrow from each other on an overnight basis)

Market Indicators – 28 February 2022

“There is no purgatory for war criminals - they go straight to hell”, Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said to his Russian counterpart at a United Nations Security Council meeting.

Periodic Table of Investment Returns

Looking across 2021 and the past decade, a number of observations can be made from the Periodic Table.

Top 10 stocks ANZ International Shares

The top ten holdings in the ANZ International Share Fund are:

Market Indicators - 31 January 2022

The start of 2022 was a volatile month for equities. Inflation remained at multi decade highs as a competitive labour market and soaring oil prices sustained pressures.

Market Indicators - 31 December 2021

Financial markets finished the year and the month of December on a strong note despite being disrupted by COVID-19.

Market Indicators - 30 November 2021

Financial markets ended the month of November on tumultuous footing as rising hospitalizations in Europe due to the Coronavirus alongside the new Omicron variant of the Coronavirus spurred.

Market Indicators - October 2021

Global equity markets rebounded in October after last month’s rout. Inflation, monetary policy tightening and supply chain woes continued to weigh on economic activity.

Market Indicators - September 2021

September proved to be a difficult month for Global Equity markets as a slowing global economy, worsening supply chain and the potential Evergrande bankruptcy in China dented investor sentiment.

Market Indicators - 31 August 2021

In August, the global reopening continued, with a number of countries further lifting pandemic restrictions. This is despite the Delta variant continuing to spread and daily cases picking up across

Market Indicators - 31 July 2021

The global economic recovery remained strong in July as the Coronavirus vaccination roll-out continued. This was somewhat tempered by the spread of the Delta variant of the virus.

Market Indicators - 30 June 2021

Global Equities finished the month in positive territory after what was one of the strongest starts to the year since the Dot Com bubble in 2000.

Investment news

Global share markets remained strong through March, with the global vaccine rollout giving investors confidence about the year ahead.

Market Indicators - 31 May 2021

Global equities continued their upward trajectory in May as many developed economies continued to reopen, leveraging off surprisingly efficient vaccine rollouts.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2021

After a positive March, global share markets continued to perform strongly in April with all major markets (with the exception of Japan) showing positive returns.

Current earnings rate

Every month between July and May, the trustee determines a monthly earning rate for each investment option.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2021

Global equities remained strong through March with the global vaccine rollout giving investors confidence in the year ahead, with the MSCI World Index returning 7.3% in unhedged NZD

Market Indicators - 31 January 2021

Global share markets finished the last calendar month of 2020 on a positive note! Despite political tension in the US and a new, highly contagious variant of COVID-19 spreading throughout the UK.

Market Indicators - 31 December 2020

Global share markets finished the last calendar month of 2020 on a positive note! Despite political tension in the US and a new,

Market Indicators - 30 November 2020

Global equities saw strong returns across the board in November as the outlook for a successful Covid-19 vaccine boosted expectations that the worst of the pandemic,

Negative Interest Rates

Interest rates in New Zealand and around the world are exceptionally low, and have just recently gone lower.

Market Indicators - 31 October 2020

Equity markets failed to find their footing following the turbulence of September, with most major indices experiencing outflows throughout October.

Market Indicators - 30 September 2020

Equity markets lost ground in September, bucking their widespread positive trajectory off their pandemic-induced lows.

Market Indicators - 31 August 2020

Equity markets pushed higher in August, supported by continued improvements in global manufacturing data and an indication of persistently dovish central bank policies.

Market Indicators - 31 July 2020

Global equity markets continued their strong performance in July, with a better-than-expected earnings season in the US and continued fiscal support for households and businesses.

Market Indicators - 30 June 2020

Global equity markets extended their remarkable quarterly gains throughout June, with the NASDAQ touching record highs as FAANG

Market Indicators - 31 May 2020

Global equities climbed and government bond yields rose as the recovery in investment markets continued throughout May.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2020

Despite the ongoing global pandemic, markets delivered sharply positive returns in April. US equity markets had their best performance since 1987.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2020

March proved to be one of the worst months for asset prices in modern history. Escalation of a widespread sell-off that began in February spilled over into a sharp liquidity squeeze,

NZAS Retirement Fund investment update

The NZAS Retirement Fund uses a wide array of fund managers, and more detail will be available in due course as to specifically how portfolios have been performing recently.

Market volatility

This video will give you a basic understanding of how share market cycles work, the types of asset classes there are and how they are affected by market fluctuations,

Top perform asset classes 2019 revealed

What asset class do you think delivered the highest return for the 2019 calendar year? Was it global shares?

Market Indicators - 29 Feb 2020

After touching new highs earlier in the year, global equities and other risk assets sold off sharply in February over concerns about the spread of coronavirus

Coronavirus Implications

Coronavirus Implications – Investment Update

Market Indicators - 31 January 2020

January proved to be an eventful month; after a strong start, culminating in the signing of the phase one deal between the US and China

Market Indicators - 31 Dec 2019

2019 was a bumper year for equity markets and December was no exception.

Market Indicators - 30 Nov 2019

November was another positive month for developed equity markets, encouraged by reported progress on trade negotiations between the US and China.

Market Indicators - 31 Oct 2019

October delivered another positive month for global markets, with global equities rising and bond yields inching higher.

Market Indicators - 30 Sep 2019

Global markets were once again able to slip into a “goldilocks” phase of accommodative monetary policy and easing trade conflict over September,

Market Indicators - 31 Aug 2019

August was a month marked by volatility, with equity markets struggling as investor risk appetite retreated amid fears of a global recession.

Market Indicators - 31 July 2019

July served up more positive returns for investors despite signs of increasing market strain and a weakening global economic outlook.

Market Indicators - 30 June 2019

June was a good one for investors with all major asset classes delivering positive returns and equities recovering from the falls suffered in May.

Market Indicators - 31 May 2019

May dished up a rocky month for investors, reminiscent of the equity correction seen in December last year.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2019

April continued the positive start to 2019 for investors, with equity markets maintaining their positive momentum.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2019

March brought more good news for investors, with most asset classes again posting positive returns.

Market Indicators - 28 February 2019

February delivered more good news to investors with most asset classes posting positive returns for the second consecutive month.

Market Indicators - 31 January 2019

Global markets rebounded in January with all developed markets posting positive returns.

Latest Investment Insights (Sep 2020)

The second quarter ended with a rocky ride for global share markets. Find out in this video what was behind some of this volatility.

Market Indicators - 31 December 2018

Global markets fell sharply in December with most developed markets posting large negative returns.

Market Indicators - 30 November 2018

Despite persistent volatility throughout the month, the majority of equity markets across North America and the Pacific clawed backed some of their October losses in November,

Market Indicators - 31 October 2018

October 2018 is being called “the worst month in ten years” after many major global share markets had much of their year to date gains annihilated by another large bout of volatility.

Market Indicators - 30 September 2018

Global equity investors struggled with the uncertainty of ever more ubiquitous trade tensions over the month, although markets still delivered a small positive return in aggregate.

Market Indicators - 31 August 2018

Global markets posted positive returns in aggregate during August.

Market Indicators - 30 June 2018

Positive returns in the US and Australia and falls in Europe, Japan and Emerging Markets over the month, resulted in a relatively flat aggregate return from global share markets in June.

Market Indicators - 31 May 2018

Global equities, in aggregate, rose over May, but it wasn’t all good news.

Market Indicators - 30 April 2018

April saw equity markets bounce back from their recent decline, delivering positive returns across all developed economies.

Market Indicators - 31 March 2018

March started on a positive note, bouncing back from losses in February.

Market Indicators - 28 February 2018

Early in February the announcement that the US budget deficit would reach close to US$1 trillion in 2018 aroused fears of inflation and higher interest rates,

Market Indicators - 31 January 2018

The first month of 2018 picked up where 2017 left off, with most global equity markets (Australia and the UK aside) delivering positive returns.

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