Commentary

As of 31 July 2025

  • As widely expected, the Reserve Bank left the OCR unchanged at 3.25% in its July Monetary Policy Review.
  • The Reserve Bank appears comfortable to look through upside inflation pressure in the second half of 2025, viewing these as temporary.
  • Markets continue to be finely balanced from a Reserve Bank decision standpoint, further cuts are expected, however these may be smaller than some expect as the RBNZ needs to balance its inflation mandate against weak growth and uncertainty.

The fund performed well in July returning 0.37% outperforming its benchmark the 90-day Bank Bill Index which returned 0.28%.

Despite the Reserve Bank holding the OCR unchanged at 3.25% in their July review, interest rates fell across the bills and swap curve out to 1 year. Markets have taken to heart RBNZ’s comments that suggest it’s willing to look through near term inflation pressures and thereby continue to ease as guided in their May MPS. 90-day and 6-month bills both fell 9.5bps to 3.195% and 3.17% respectively, whilst 1-year swap fell 5.75bps to 3.10%. With rates falling the fund’s long duration position positively contributed to performance.

With the easing cycle now well progressed and the RBNZ showing willingness to look through near term upside inflation pressure, we are comfortable continuing to run a long duration position. This stance is based on the view that the OCR will remain at its soon to be reached terminal level for around a year to a year and a half unless the data trajectory meaningfully deviates from its current path. As such we are comfortable taking on longer duration positions where they offer a yield advantage over the OCRs level. 

Performance

Nikko AM KiwiSaver Scheme
Open Close

Performance

at 31 July 2025
One month Three months One year Three years (p.a) Five years (p.a)
Fund performance1 0.33% 0.96% 4.69% 5.13% 3.38%
Appropriate Market Index (AMI)2 0.28% 0.87% 4.41% 4.90% 3.20%
  1. Returns are before tax and after the deduction of fees and expenses and including tax credits (if any).
  2. AMI: Bloomberg NZBond Bank Bill Index.

5 year cumulative performance $10,000 invested

Top 10 Holdings

Security Name Percentage
Westpac New Zealand 060726 Frn 3.91%
Westpac NZ 1.439% 02/24/26 3.60%
Kiwibank Ltd 130628 Frn 3.57%
Rabobank NederlandNZ 190628 FRN 3.30%
ASB Bank Limited 181027 FRN 3.23%
Mufg Bank Ltd Auckland Branch 241126 Frn 2.94%
Transpower NZ 1.735% 04/09/2025 2.70%
Transpower New Zealand Limited 260825 Pnote 2.61%
New Zealand Tax Trading Co 180825 Rcd 2.42%
Rabobank NederlandNZ 160326 FRN 2.28%