Latest / The Curve / Our Annual Predictions Episode is BACK!

Transcript

Our Annual Predictions Episode is BACK! · The Curve

0:00
Welcome to The Curve Weekly, your go-to podcast for all things money, business and stock
0:06
market news, minus the man's planning.
0:08
We're all about making finance fun and easy to understand, so that means we're keeping
0:12
the dragon to an absolute minimum.
0:15
And if we do throw around any terms that you don't understand, we've got a very handy
0:18
glossary in our description.
0:20
And if you prefer watching us, we'll upload all of our episodes to YouTube and there's
0:24
a link in the description.
0:25
Stay in the loop, stay ahead of the curve, and get ready to sound some other than all
0:29
of those finance bros you're next in the party.
0:36
I'm doing a world first, Vick.
0:38
Well, it's not really a world first, but a bucket first.
0:42
I am recording this podcast without pants on.
0:44
Ooh, we're saucy.
0:47
First podcast back, the 2026.
0:50
She's like, you know what, I'm going to deal with no pants.
0:52
No, it's just like absolutely slating here in London, like Ryan's.
0:59
No, I mean, I came in with about 70,000 layers on and like my laptop and a plastic bag
1:04
and the whole thing was such a deal and I got still so wet, so I had to hang my pants
1:08
up to dry while we were recording.
1:10
I had a meltdown when I was in London and it was so cold and I wasn't wearing enough
1:14
layers.
1:15
My hands were frozen, it was raining.
1:17
I started crying on the bike and I was like, I just want a car.
1:21
Look at all these people, these nice warm heated seated cars, you know, and I was like,
1:26
I was just so having a moment, but you know, no, being on a line is the funnest thing
1:31
in the whole world in the middle of summer.
1:33
Being on a line in the middle of winter is low key, the most dangerous mode of transport
1:37
you could ever.
1:38
Yep.
1:39
I mean, I had to stop on the side of the road and readjust everything, put my gloves down
1:44
on the ground, everything was flying everywhere, I was in a wind tunnel where the whole thing
1:49
was about to fall on me.
1:50
If anyone could see me right now, I was like swearing to myself and then I saw this guy
1:54
who was the security vertesco, and I was like, excuse me, can you get me some more plastic
1:59
bags?
2:00
He was just like, oh my gosh, how y'all look nice?
2:05
How is sunny New Zealand?
2:06
It's so nice.
2:07
Oh, it's good to be home.
2:09
I have a new found appreciation for a Kiwi summer, I think.
2:13
You know, you have it pretty much every year of your life.
2:16
And it's not to you go away and you come back, it's been so, so good.
2:21
But the weather though, it's like sometimes it's not the best.
2:25
Where yeah, New Year's was in a storm, no power, no cell reception, but when we had no
2:32
power and no cell phone reception, I was like, oh my goodness, you know, what if my family
2:37
is not okay?
2:38
Because that's when my part is family.
2:39
And I was like, what if the North Island has been swept away, like all this stuff, like
2:43
spiraling?
2:44
Wasn't that bad?
2:45
Oh my goodness.
2:46
I had no way of knowing on the news, if they're being a tsunami, you know, like what,
2:50
the rest of the conditions of the country weren't anyway.
2:53
Then I was like, you know what, actually, I'm just going to lean into this and I just read
2:57
so many books.
2:58
It was honestly like my dream scenario.
3:00
I was going to say for anyone that missed that episode of the last year, spoke about
3:04
if you want to take a year off and we were doing all the calculations around like how
3:08
much money you would need, blah, blah, blah.
3:10
And literally, if I had a year off, I would just read a million books.
3:13
So I mean, maybe that was manifesting it at first.
3:16
I read the first time you read a whole book on the flight home.
3:20
I didn't watch any movies or anything.
3:22
How did you do that?
3:24
I know.
3:25
I kind of got halfway through and I was like, this is going to be a competition for myself.
3:28
Can I finish it before the plane lands?
3:30
Love it.
3:31
Game of fire, everything.
3:32
Would you like to tell the class about your flight to the vehicle?
3:36
I usually fly through Singapore.
3:37
I've had a few issues with the US and like visas anyway.
3:41
So I like refused to go through the United States.
3:43
And so I love to go through Singapore.
3:46
It's super easy.
3:47
Anyway.
3:48
And then I was like, oh, when I was booking my flights, I was like, there's a flight
3:50
through Vancouver.
3:51
It's like, how fun.
3:52
That's so fun.
3:53
So I'll do that.
3:54
And it was a good time, good price, all of that.
3:56
So books, a flight from London to Vancouver Vancouver to Auckland.
3:59
Anyway, we got to the airport and I was like, and then go to chicken.
4:02
I was like, I can't chicken.
4:03
And they're like, oh, do you have your visa?
4:04
I was like, sorry, what?
4:06
I was like, oh, no, no, I'm just transiting.
4:07
I'm just transiting.
4:08
They're like, yeah, yeah, you need a visa.
4:10
I was like, no, no, no, I booked through New Zealand.
4:12
So it's like an in-use in my ticket.
4:13
So it's like, that's fine.
4:14
I just leave me through.
4:15
Oh, did you panic at that point?
4:17
Or are you?
4:18
Not really.
4:19
They were like, oh, just scan this QR code for the format and it'll be approved in like
4:22
a few seconds.
4:23
I was like, cool, cool, cool.
4:24
Scan the QR code, filled it in, waited a few seconds, a few more seconds, waited to
4:28
two minutes before chicken was closing.
4:31
But then there's like 30, just over half an hour of waiting now for this thing to be approved.
4:35
They've been calling the people, being like, hey, can you fast-track, you know, miss
4:38
Harris's application and they're like, there's something we can do.
4:41
And I was like, please, can I just go through?
4:42
They're like, no, no, it's fine.
4:43
If it doesn't come through, we'll just put you on the next flight.
4:46
I was like, yeah, when's that?
4:47
They're like, tomorrow?
4:48
I was like, I am not lugging my three suitcases back to Central London.
4:51
No.
4:52
Anyway, I was also like, I've got a connecting flight, blah, blah, blah.
4:54
They kind of didn't really care.
4:56
And then got, my visa approved four minutes after chicken closed.
5:01
So I was ropeable.
5:03
I went from really sad crying, that I need to get home for Christmas to, I don't want to
5:09
say Karen, but I was an absolute nightmare, yeah.
5:12
I was calling in New Zealand, being like, you know, you never told me that I needed a visa,
5:17
poor year Canada was getting the wrath of me as well.
5:19
Like, anyway, I just waited seven hours at Heathrow for the next Singapore Airlines flight.
5:24
I was like, wait, and I just did this from the beginning, so yeah.
5:26
Wait, did you have to pay for a new flight?
5:28
I had to pay 300 pounds to effectively change my flight, because it was in New Zealand
5:33
flight.
5:34
The next New Zealand flight was in seven hours time through Singapore.
5:37
Wait, so you just spend seven hours, pre-30 hour journey?
5:40
Yeah.
5:41
I know.
5:42
I mean, that's happened.
5:43
I think it happened to me last year.
5:44
I missed my flight.
5:45
And I said, it's six hours on hinge at London, Heathrow, waiting for the next flight.
5:49
I was just so annoyed at myself.
5:51
I really pride myself with that stuff.
5:53
People like that so off brand for you, that I was like, I know, I was almost, I didn't
5:56
want to tell anyone.
5:57
You know, I've got to keep my brand image intact.
5:59
Honestly, because I didn't even hear it through Vic.
6:02
I heard through someone else and I was like, no, no, but I actually, in a learning experience,
6:07
I was like being at the airport going, oh my goodness, I cannot afford to pay for a full
6:14
new flight here.
6:15
I don't, I literally don't know what I'm going to do.
6:17
My parents were asleep.
6:18
I'm literally going to have to wait for the next flight.
6:21
But even then, whose fault was it, would I have to pay?
6:24
Anyway, it was a bit of panic.
6:25
And then I was like, actually, I have my emergency fund.
6:28
And thankfully, it was only 300 pounds.
6:30
That would be in a really good time.
6:31
I would have been like, okay, an emergency fund.
6:35
And yes, I might have had to wait to get my emergency fund money out, would have probably
6:39
had to wait a few hours, but that's a really good example of why you need at least some
6:45
of your emergency fund money to be able to access it straight away.
6:48
Because if I was at the airport and it was taking two or three days to put me to withdraw
6:51
money from my emergency fund, I'd be like, sorry, mum and dad, not home for Christmas.
6:56
Yeah, because I actually haven't done that.
6:58
I've got a lot of my, a lot.
7:00
I've spent most of my emergency fund, it's looking a bit dire at the moment.
7:03
Mine is in a two day.
7:05
I've got it, it takes two days to come out and that's been a bit of an issue lately.
7:08
So I actually, maybe I'll do that.
7:09
I'll just have 500 pounds in a way lower returning just in case of that sort of situation.
7:15
I also went, when I got to Auckland and I went to drive down to the beach and got off that
7:20
tire and I was just like, oh, thank you.
7:23
Had a shit.
7:24
Hit me when I'm down.
7:25
And it was a public holiday.
7:26
No one was around and I found this 24 hour person that came and removed the tire and
7:32
gave me a new tire, $500.
7:33
I was like, I don't care, I just, I just want to be at home.
7:38
You just go into this whole of being like 12 years old again and then why does the world
7:42
hate me?
7:43
Oh, yeah, yeah.
7:44
I remember getting a parking fine or I think I drove through a red light or something
7:47
in Sydney and a cop pulled me over or made it, I can't remember, my car was like not
7:52
registered.
7:53
It was something chaotic and the policeman gave me a, it was like five or eight hundred
7:58
Australian dollars, which at the time I was just, I went into a full-blown, like kind
8:01
of fake panic attack mode.
8:03
Yeah, didn't, didn't work.
8:05
But then I have this moment, I'm like, don't spiral.
8:07
It is moments like this, which is why you have money set aside.
8:12
Do you know any mean?
8:13
Like, it's very easy to be like, why me or, you know, it's 500 Kiwi dollars that I'm
8:17
now not going to have, but it's like, no, no, think of the positives in the situation.
8:22
You have planned for something like this to happen.
8:25
You didn't know when and thankfully you've got that money, so you don't have to be stuck
8:29
on the side of the road, worry about it.
8:31
Do you know what I mean?
8:32
Like, it's like kind of seeing the positive side, no, no, actually, you thought a head,
8:35
so pick yourself on the back for that.
8:37
Yes, it sucks, but like, yeah, it was so funny though, after the flight debacle, this lady
8:41
messaged, she's a travel agent and she was like, Vic, she's like, I'm sorry, I can't.
8:46
After no travel insurance for Japan and now this flight debacle, trying to get home, she's
8:51
like, please give me a call.
8:53
Oh my God.
8:54
Are you, can you please be my travel agent too?
8:57
No, I was like, okay, maybe it is time.
8:59
Oh, traveling honestly, it's just the one thing I'm just, I really, I think that's the
9:04
reason I, I mean, that and also I can't afford to do much travel, but mainly I would say
9:08
booking flights would be up there with one of the most stressful activities.
9:13
I always mark something up, accidentally booked the wrong time, accidentally turned up
9:17
at the wrong time, like kind of glad that A types like yourself also do the same.
9:22
Now, this is a very exciting episode.
9:24
Firstly, it's the first episode of the year, which, well, actually, we've just released
9:28
the episode with Marley Rose.
9:29
Yes.
9:30
The money mindset conversation, which blow both their minds.
9:33
If you haven't listened to that, highly recommend it to a really good start to the
9:37
year.
9:38
I think I might listen again.
9:39
Yes, same, actually.
9:40
It was so good.
9:41
I actually had a friend with me.
9:42
She was like, oh my goodness, she's like, my favourite episode you've ever done was
9:46
the one at the end of the year.
9:47
She's like, and then you blew it away and you did the next species episode and her favourite
9:51
one was like, stop, oh my god, start.
9:53
Great feedback.
9:54
You used great feedback.
9:55
If you have feedback like that, could you please post it publicly on Spotify or wherever
9:59
you are reviewing on the cast.
10:01
Yeah, would be awesome.
10:02
Just everywhere.
10:03
Put it up on billboards, pamphlets, you know, anything like that.
10:07
Instagram story, tag us, you know, whatever you like.
10:09
Stand in a sandwich board on the side of the road saying, you know, the care of podcast
10:13
is my favourite.
10:14
So, today's episode, this has also become a tradition.
10:18
The last episode of the year and the first episode of the year.
10:20
We did our productions this time last year for what we thought we would see in the stock
10:24
market across the world.
10:26
What were, why are you grinning?
10:27
Because I'm just like, I know I can remember a few, I can't remember them all, but I can
10:31
remember a few and this time I got so wrong.
10:33
I can't remember any classic, but Emily, our producer has gone through and pulled out
10:40
clips from last year's episode.
10:42
So we're going to move through these and play them as we go.
10:45
So this was the clip from last year and we're talking about the, the US stock market.
10:49
OK, so there's some P500.
10:51
OK, I'll play.
10:53
Do you think at the end of 2025 that the US stock market will be up or down up 27%?
11:00
What are you putting down?
11:01
I reckon up 4%.
11:04
Oh, no, I'm right.
11:09
Well, I'm closer, closer than you.
11:11
Not really.
11:12
Wouldn't you say that's Matt bang in the middle?
11:15
Yeah, I said up for you set up 27 and it's up 15.
11:19
So we're kind of, yes, Matt bang in the middle.
11:21
Oh my God, I thought it was going to be up 27%.
11:25
I can see why.
11:26
I mean, it had done over 20% for the last three years, two years.
11:30
Also, when I was looking at that clip, I just realised the pants that I wore in that I'm
11:34
no longer wearing was what I was wearing in that and also the jersey that I had on I wore
11:39
in two.
11:40
Oh my gosh.
11:41
So, you know, I probably can have a bit of a refresh on the old wardrobe.
11:44
Predictions will also have a new wardrobe between the 26.
11:49
So, the US stock market was up 15%.
11:52
The FTSE, so that's the UK stock market, was up 22%, so that's actually the one that
11:59
I was meaning.
12:00
Oh, I didn't know.
12:02
Oh, yeah, and the New Zealand stock market was up 3, that's what I was meaning.
12:08
Yeah, yeah.
12:09
I was.
12:10
Yeah, and the New Zealand and Australia was up about 3% and 5%.
12:15
So, they did kind of the worst out of the four.
12:19
But the UK stock market, like, wow, killing it.
12:23
Yeah, because it's weird, it didn't feel like that all year, did it?
12:26
No, it's kind of been a bit stealthy.
12:29
Been a backseat bandit.
12:30
Yes.
12:31
It's made it way up the side, hasn't it?
12:32
Yeah, and it's mainly because of the mining stocks that are in the FTSE 100, which is
12:38
the main index in the UK, and gold and silver has been, has done so well.
12:44
So all the stocks related to that commodity have done really well, as well as banks,
12:48
insurers, because we've had interest rates higher, so yeah, there's like, I guess, a few
12:54
underlying themes playing in defence as well.
12:57
There's a lot of defence stocks in the UK stock market, and unfortunately, there is a
13:02
few places around the world that need defending.
13:05
So the main reason that the UK was up, obviously, the main reason the US was up was more tech
13:10
AI stocks.
13:11
Yeah.
13:12
Question number two.
13:13
You have the plan?
13:14
Yeah.
13:15
Well, Bitcoin hit $200,000.
13:17
Yes.
13:18
I'm going to say no.
13:19
What do you reckon it would get to?
13:23
Any ideas?
13:24
I think like $150,000.
13:25
Oh my God, we were so far off with this one.
13:30
Yeah.
13:31
So Bitcoin currently today is $94,000.
13:35
US dollars.
13:36
That's still gone up, haps in the last few months.
13:39
It was down a lot.
13:40
It got to $120,000 during the year and has come down a bit, but I feel like this is
13:44
going to be the year of Bitcoin though.
13:46
OK.
13:47
I've just got a feeling.
13:48
Nice.
13:49
Feeling in my loins.
13:50
I probably would agree, just with everything going on in the world.
13:52
OK.
13:53
Prediction number three.
13:54
Oh, this is exciting.
13:55
OK.
13:56
Are you ready to play the club?
13:57
Yeah.
13:58
Do you think tech talk will get banned in the US?
14:01
No.
14:02
I think that Trump would just be like, there would be a stupid move for him.
14:06
Oh, God, we good.
14:09
Yes, we are so good.
14:11
No, it hasn't been banned in the US.
14:13
It's been restructured, so it's obviously still available.
14:16
Could you give us an update for anyone who's new to the Curve Weekly and may have missed
14:19
the saga?
14:20
Could you just give a quick overview of what happened and where it's at?
14:22
Yeah.
14:23
So last year, the US got a bit worried that tech talk, which is owned by a Chinese company,
14:29
was I guess breaching and causing concern in terms of national security because it's
14:35
got all this data and feeding algorithms to US viewers, they were like, you know, we
14:40
don't want you in the US.
14:42
And so you can either carve off your US operations and sell it to a different entity to continue
14:47
operating in the US, or you can completely withdraw.
14:51
And it got down to the wire and everyone on TikTok was in the US was saying goodbye to
14:55
each other and everything.
14:56
And then at the 11th hour, they extended the deadline, but then they came to an agreement
15:01
eventually that they would spin off the US division into a joint venture owned by a
15:08
private equity company, Oracle, and then a few others.
15:11
So it's effectively like someone put it in a really good way.
15:15
It'll be like you've been able to sell Coca-Cola and having the rights to sell Coca-Cola,
15:20
but you don't know what the recipe is because they don't have access to the algorithm or
15:25
anything like that.
15:26
So it's a bit weird, but anyway, it means that people can store your TikTok in the US,
15:30
which a lot of people have created incredible followings and businesses off, so that's
15:34
good news.
15:35
Also, just to explain, the idea of the Coca-Cola, I think that's such a good analogy.
15:41
Algorithms, if we're being honest, TikTok algorithm is so much better than any other algorithm.
15:46
It's its most amazing commodity.
15:48
So when all of this kicked off, the whole point was Trump and America wanted access to the
15:54
algorithm as well as the data.
15:56
So this is kind of a middle ground where they feel like they're winning, but they're
16:01
not giving away their most valuable business asset, which is their algorithm.
16:04
Yeah.
16:05
When win for everyone?
16:06
Well, I mean, TikTok probably doesn't think it is, but...
16:09
Ah, number four, let's play the club.
16:12
Do you think interest rates in New Zealand will be higher or lower by the end of the year?
16:15
I think it's going to be at about a three percent.
16:19
I like that figure.
16:20
Should we agree on one?
16:21
Yeah.
16:22
But we'll go three percent.
16:24
What was it at the end of the year?
16:25
2.25.
16:26
Okay.
16:27
Quite close.
16:28
So the year before, at the end of the year at 4.25, and then it fell to 2.25.
16:33
So we were kind of thinking it would be somewhere in the middle, but it actually was lower
16:37
than expected, which is good and bad.
16:39
The reason that interest rates have had to fall in New Zealand is because the economy
16:43
isn't doing well, and they're trying to fuel spending and fuel growth in the economy.
16:49
So it's great if you own a house and have a mortgage, but not so great if you've got
16:54
money at a term deposit or you're an older retiree that's trying to have your money
17:00
and more.
17:01
Yeah, more kind of term deposit savings accounts, and those savings accounts are now not generating
17:06
as much return.
17:08
And so why did we both think it was going to be 3 percent?
17:11
We still thought it would come down, but just we didn't think it would come down as much.
17:14
So it's gone from 4.25.
17:16
We thought three, but it's actually been 2.25.
17:18
So we're to think when they were incredibly high, how low 2 percent is?
17:22
Oh, I know.
17:23
Like for anyone thinking about getting into property, it is a stunning time to be borrowing
17:28
money, isn't it?
17:29
I could 2 percent interest rates so low.
17:31
Yeah, so it means what you're borrowing money for money for.
17:33
We can't give advice.
17:34
That's what I'm trying to.
17:35
But oh, oh, oh, got you.
17:37
Sorry, don't listen to me.
17:38
I'm not an financial advisor.
17:39
We're not encouraging you to go borrow money.
17:41
Oh, sorry, sorry.
17:42
No, definitely not.
17:43
I just more mean hypothetically.
17:44
It's a good time to buy money when interest rates are low, right?
17:47
Because the whole point is your interest rate is the amount you're paying back on what
17:50
you've borrowed.
17:51
Exactly.
17:52
You're paying as low.
17:53
It means you're kind of getting it cheaper.
17:55
We're not cheaper, but yes, exactly.
17:56
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:57
Number five, how many female CEOs do you think there'll be in the S&P 500?
18:03
I'm going to have 45.
18:05
No, that's too ambitious.
18:07
I'm going to go 44.
18:09
Don't go one down.
18:11
I'm going to go 50.
18:14
I think this might be the year.
18:17
There is 47 female CEOs in the S&P 500.
18:24
Between us again, I guess 45, yes, 40, 50.
18:27
Yeah.
18:28
That is movement people.
18:30
And that's up from 39 in 2024.
18:33
So nearly 10 more, which is great.
18:35
That is so cool.
18:36
We are getting there progress, progress, progress.
18:39
That's actually amazing.
18:40
I'm stoked to hear that.
18:41
Same.
18:42
This one's a good one.
18:44
Out of Apple NVIDIA, Microsoft, Mesa, Amazon, and Google, so the kind of the big...
18:51
Fabulous fibre.
18:52
Whatever they call it.
18:53
Yeah.
18:54
Which do you think will perform the beef at the end of the year?
18:57
Well, yeah, I know.
18:58
Let's do so.
18:59
On the count of three, let's say who we think it's going to be.
19:02
Okay?
19:03
Yeah.
19:04
Three, two, one.
19:06
Google.
19:07
Oh my God, Vic.
19:14
You know what is so funny about this?
19:16
Yeah.
19:17
Okay.
19:18
On the count of three.
19:19
Three, two, one.
19:20
Dutch idiots.
19:21
Can we just focus on the positive first thing?
19:24
I know.
19:25
Which is the fact that we predicted the top performing stock of the whole year.
19:32
It's crazy.
19:33
Out of those three.
19:34
I'm sorry.
19:35
Out of those.
19:36
Oh, sorry.
19:38
Yes.
19:39
We actually put this out to the community and overwhelmingly people thought in video,
19:45
closely followed by Apple and Meta.
19:46
Why the actual after-day not invest my entire life savings into Google?
19:50
But also, it's done, not only a little bit more, it's absolutely killed it.
19:55
It was up 60% 60.
19:58
And in video, it was 24, Microsoft 11, Meta, Amazon, Apple, all way lower, like, 2,
20:05
14.
20:06
It's not even in the race.
20:08
And Google is just miles, miles ahead.
20:11
I can't even believe it.
20:13
We should put ourselves on like a video billboard.
20:16
We know what's happening in the stock market.
20:18
We should.
20:19
Back ourselves more, I reckon.
20:21
A hundred percent.
20:22
Oh, God, that's so amazing that I'm very proud of that one.
20:26
Number seven.
20:27
Oh, this is exciting.
20:28
Okay.
20:29
Are you ready to play the club?
20:30
Yeah.
20:31
In the UK, do you think inflation will be higher or lower?
20:35
Next six percent.
20:36
What's your guess?
20:37
I reckon four percent.
20:40
What is it?
20:41
So, in 2024, it was two and a half percent, and it's now, well, in 2025, it was 3.2 percent
20:50
so higher.
20:51
Okay, so you kind of win that one.
20:53
I mean, it's not great, but it's not actually too much difference.
20:57
But if it's up, what does this mean for the UK economy?
21:00
I mean, you want to be in between two and three percent, normally, in like a really
21:04
healthy economy, inflation should be two and three, two to three percent.
21:07
So it's in the healthy range.
21:09
I think it was just coming off the back of really high inflation rates.
21:14
That was why we put that question in, because we were like, oh, gosh, will it be like back
21:17
up around the four, five, sixes, or will it actually be, you know, maintain that healthy
21:21
level?
21:22
So I think it's a good thing.
21:23
Okay.
21:24
Number eight.
21:25
What do you think will be the top three performing stocks in the S&P 500 by the end
21:32
of the year?
21:33
This is so fun.
21:34
I'm going.
21:35
First solar, I'm going Google, I'm going a random crypto company that all of a sudden
21:41
booms to the top.
21:42
What are your guesses?
21:43
I'm going to do Google too.
21:45
I'm going to do Pfizer.
21:47
What are you putting in Pfizer to meet her?
21:50
And Netflix.
21:51
Can we have a fourth?
21:52
Yep.
21:53
Don't do a fourth.
21:54
Yeah.
21:55
I'm going to do Bixchai Hathaway.
21:56
One more from you.
21:57
What are you?
21:58
Oh, Tesla.
21:59
I'm going to put Tesla in.
22:00
I even know what the top three performers were this year.
22:03
Did we get any?
22:04
We weren't even close.
22:05
Damn.
22:06
So the top three were, you will know this one, Sandisk, no way.
22:13
Yeah.
22:14
No way.
22:15
I had to Google it.
22:16
I was like, I've never heard of this company.
22:18
And I was like, you say Hath.
22:20
Oh my God.
22:21
Sandisk, like the micro USD.
22:22
We've got them everywhere right now.
22:24
Yeah.
22:25
What the hell?
22:26
I know.
22:27
So there's that one.
22:29
There is Western Digital and then Cgate Technology.
22:32
Those were the three.
22:33
And they did nearly 600% to 250% all three of those are data storage companies.
22:41
OK.
22:42
OK.
22:43
OK.
22:44
This is popping off at the moment.
22:45
All three are linked to memory hardware, AI, data storage, data use, and I was thinking
22:54
about this. And I was like, 2024 was the year of AI companies, tech companies that were
23:03
creating the software that Nvidia is, you know, those were the companies that were doing
23:07
really well.
23:08
Then 2025 is, you know, how do we support all the technology and data that's needed for
23:15
AI consumption?
23:16
OK.
23:17
We're going to have to, you know, it's data centers that are going to see, you know, have
23:20
a great time in the sun.
23:21
And then I was like, well, what's 2026?
23:22
So you're moving down the supply chain, right?
23:26
And I was like, 2026, how are you going to power those data centers?
23:30
So I think, I mean, we're going to get on to our predictions for 2026, but I think
23:35
the best performing sectoral stocks is going to be in the energy space, whether it's nuclear,
23:40
whether it's solar, whether it's unfortunately, you know, oil and gas companies, I think
23:46
there's going to be so much energy usage needed to support that, that those are going
23:51
to be the companies that perform well in 2026.
23:54
OK, we've got a last one.
23:55
This is a wild card.
23:56
I can't remember what this was, was it something to do with country?
24:00
What country is going to do best?
24:02
This is so funny watching that.
24:05
What do you think is going to be the like left field, black swan thing that nobody's
24:11
thought about that's going to happen?
24:14
Class pass.
24:15
Class pass or IPO?
24:16
I think that's probably a good one.
24:18
Thank you.
24:19
That's what I thought.
24:20
OK.
24:21
Japan becomes the economic hub for the world.
24:26
Japan's economy just starts like kind of rivaling China's almost.
24:31
I reckon Australia takes over New Zealand and there's an all-out war.
24:33
What's wrong with you?
24:36
I reckon Netflix and Spotify will merge.
24:39
Oh!
24:40
Epic.
24:41
Great.
24:42
One of the biggest media companies in the world.
24:45
Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry.
24:49
This is epic.
24:50
Firstly, Japan, not that far off.
24:53
I know.
24:54
It was one of the best performing stock markets in the world in 2025.
24:59
I was like, nice, sir.
25:01
Yeah.
25:02
God, where did they come from?
25:04
Yeah.
25:05
I think it was because I thought China's had its time in the sun.
25:07
There's going to be a sidestep within Asia.
25:11
Wow.
25:12
Yeah.
25:13
Warren Buffett is over here.
25:14
I know.
25:15
And you Spotify and Netflix, I mean, it's happening.
25:19
The podcast is starting to go all over Netflix.
25:21
And Netflix, you know, didn't acquire Spotify, but it's looking like it's acquired, you
25:28
know, another big media house, Warner Bros.
25:31
So...
25:32
God, we are actually on fire.
25:33
I'm so impressed.
25:34
Coming into this episode, I was sort of worried because I thought I can't remember what
25:38
I said.
25:39
And also, I feel like I've not got a lot to offer for my predictions for the year.
25:43
And all of a sudden, I'm quite impressed with both of us, actually.
25:47
But also, it kind of makes me nervous to predict 2026, but it's got some big shows to
25:52
fill.
25:53
Yeah.
25:54
Yeah.
25:55
So the way this is going to work, we're going to move through our predictions.
25:58
Prediction number one for 2026.
26:00
Do you think the US stock market will be up or down at the end of 2026?
26:04
Okay.
26:05
Take your guess, everyone.
26:06
Up or down.
26:07
What do you think, Beck?
26:08
Up.
26:09
Me too.
26:10
But I don't think by a lot.
26:12
No, I need that.
26:13
I think I'm going to stick with my 4% again.
26:15
Oh, I want to do low as well, but I don't want to be so close.
26:17
I'm copying.
26:18
I'll say up 9%.
26:21
Oh.
26:22
But I do think it's going to be a shocking year.
26:23
I think there's going to be a bit of...
26:25
It's going to be volatile, I reckon.
26:26
I agree.
26:27
We're going to be on a rollercoaster, kids.
26:29
Number two, what will Bitcoin be by the end of the year?
26:32
This one is interesting.
26:33
I know that we went big last year, but I think I want to go big with this.
26:38
I think that Bitcoin is going to do amazingly well.
26:40
Okay.
26:41
I'm going to say 150.
26:43
I'm 94 at the moment.
26:45
Yeah.
26:46
I'm going to say 200.
26:47
I hope it reaches 200.
26:48
Number three, what's one company that you think will IPO in 2026?
26:52
You know what's actually hilarious is that you did the same one as last year.
26:57
I did the same guess as last year because I forgot that I'd done it.
27:02
So I'm going to change mine.
27:03
I was going to say class pass, but I'm going to change mine to open AI.
27:06
Yeah, nice.
27:07
I kind of think that as well, but I'm going to go something different and I'm going
27:10
to do SpaceX Elon Musk's other business.
27:14
That would be quite cool.
27:17
Number four, will interest rates be higher or lower in New Zealand?
27:20
I honestly had no idea on this.
27:22
I feel like interest rates is still one of those things that I don't 100% get right
27:26
all the time, but I think they might be higher.
27:29
Okay.
27:30
Yeah, nice.
27:31
I'm going to say that because I think that the property market is going to really,
27:34
really, slowly, ever so slowly bounce back a little bit, which generally means interest
27:40
rates start to go up a bit.
27:41
Yeah, like that.
27:42
I'm going to say lower just because I think it takes a while.
27:46
I can't agree with what you're saying, but I think it takes.
27:48
No, I think you're right.
27:50
Longer than you think for these things to turn around.
27:53
No, you're right.
27:54
And it's probably going to be another three years or so until the property market
27:56
starting to climb back up.
27:58
But let's just keep me as higher and you as lower to keep things spicy.
28:02
Probably got property experts listening going.
28:04
You've got a property podcast.
28:05
What are you thinking?
28:06
Yeah.
28:07
Okay.
28:08
Number five, what will be the top two performing?
28:11
I've changed this to sectors.
28:13
Love it.
28:14
In the S&P 500.
28:15
Stocks are hard.
28:16
I love that I'm going first for this, by the way, like as if I know.
28:19
I actually want to say boring stuff like utilities.
28:23
Yeah.
28:24
And not necessarily just power.
28:26
I think this is going to be the year that perhaps we return to our roots, you know,
28:31
really basic, steady companies actually start doing really well again.
28:36
And not just in a slow and boring kind of like blue chip way.
28:39
And actually, wow, they've done quite well.
28:42
So utilities and then what's I guess they're kind of the other?
28:45
Oh, God.
28:46
I think AI will still be there.
28:48
Yeah.
28:49
I think that it just won't be as intense.
28:51
So like tech, a tech AI kind of, yeah, yeah, yeah.
28:55
Yeah, I think pretty similar.
28:57
I think energy.
28:58
And then I'm just going to go a bit rogue and go health care.
29:02
Love it.
29:03
Don't really know why.
29:04
It's quite boring to do the same as you, you know?
29:06
Yeah for it.
29:07
Oh, OK, that's one again.
29:08
Out of Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Google, which will perform the best.
29:15
I'm actually going to throw in Netflix in there as well, because that is part of the
29:19
magnificence event.
29:20
And I don't know why I left it off last year.
29:21
Is it?
29:22
Yeah.
29:23
Oh, God, this is quite a fun one.
29:24
I'm going to say Amazon.
29:25
I'm going to say Microsoft.
29:27
Ooh, I like it.
29:28
Because I think Microsoft's been having a little bit of a dull moment.
29:33
Can you do a number two?
29:34
Because I've got a number two as well.
29:35
I'd like, I want to do, I want to do Amazon and Netflix.
29:38
That was what I was going to say.
29:40
OK.
29:41
OK.
29:42
Can we do a joint one as Netflix?
29:43
OK, yeah, yeah.
29:44
And you're on this Microsoft, OK?
29:45
Cool.
29:46
This is going to be so fun.
29:47
This is so fun.
29:48
Bring on next year.
29:49
OK.
29:50
OK, number seven.
29:51
Will we have an AI lead stock market fall during the year?
29:53
I think yes.
29:54
Yeah, I think the same as well.
29:56
And when I say stock market fall, like we had a small fall in April last year, but that
30:00
was Trump tariffs.
30:02
And that was, you know, that was Trump induced.
30:05
Yeah.
30:06
I don't know.
30:07
I feel as though everyone's been talking about the AI bubble, the AI bubble for far too long
30:12
now.
30:13
There's going to be some kind of correction.
30:16
I don't think that AI is all of a sudden not going to be leading in the stock market or
30:20
most of the biggest companies in the world are going to be tech and AI focused.
30:24
I just think that it's been so as bullish the one I'm looking for, really like the
30:30
bull going up.
30:31
The one's going up.
30:32
Yeah.
30:33
Yeah.
30:34
Sorry for anyone that is like, what are they talking about?
30:36
Bull and beer is like, if you're going down on your prey, it means the stock market is
30:40
going down.
30:41
And it's in a beer market.
30:42
If you're a bull and you're going up, it means that stock market's going up.
30:47
Speaking of beers, do you know Japan has got a real issue with beers killing humans right
30:53
now?
30:54
Like beer's coming into the city and eating humans.
30:59
They've sent out the national...
31:00
Sorry, where?
31:01
In Japan.
31:02
They've sent out the national guard.
31:03
Like they've sent out like army troops to combat these beers from coming in and eating.
31:10
And it's because of climate change.
31:11
Your kiddo.
31:12
I know.
31:13
Well, because they don't have food.
31:14
They don't have food.
31:15
And it countries are advising people not to travel to Japan.
31:17
Oh my God, my family is going in February.
31:19
Where bells?
31:20
You've got to wear bells to scare them away.
31:22
All the kids are going to school with bells on their backpacks like it's crazy.
31:25
No way.
31:26
Yeah.
31:27
Oh my God.
31:28
Is a bell going to get rid of a bear?
31:30
I can't imagine that's going to scare it.
31:32
I'd be covered in bells everywhere.
31:34
Okay.
31:35
The last one, wild card predictions.
31:37
What do we think left field will happen in 2026?
31:41
I think there is going to be, and this is quite broad, so it's a bit unfair, but I think
31:47
there's going to be a revolt in terms of non-us companies revolting against the US dominance.
31:57
So whether it is a combining of India, China, Russia, you know, and really having a goal
32:05
at the US, or whether it is China alone doing something really, really massive, or countries
32:14
like Australia and New Zealand, like the UK going against it.
32:18
I just think there's going to be, it's going to be, it's going to be people banning
32:21
together against the US.
32:22
Yeah.
32:23
I think there's going to be countries that are really banding together and the people
32:26
are going to speak by not traveling there, or there's going to be, you know, that they
32:30
just can't keep getting like so big and wanting this global domination without backlash.
32:36
And when you've got countries that are genuinely way more powerful and got way bigger populations
32:42
that influence like India and China and Russia and anyway, yeah, I think I don't know how
32:47
it's going to happen, but I just feel like it's just invaded Venezuela, you know, I just
32:52
feel like you can't just take over countries and there's going to be backlash, it's kind
32:57
of my thinking.
32:58
I mean, I hope in a non-violent way, you're correct.
33:01
Yeah.
33:02
My second prediction is I reckon Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift will call off their engagement.
33:06
What?
33:07
What makes you think that?
33:09
I mean, this is a wild card, right?
33:11
I've got to do something wild.
33:12
I love that you're going rogue.
33:13
I love it.
33:14
Okay.
33:15
I'm going to go really rogue here.
33:16
I think one of the massive tech companies, one of the magnificent seven or five
33:22
or six or many there are, it's going to have a massive, excuse my language, fuck it
33:27
out.
33:28
And I don't know what.
33:29
I think they're going to release iPhones that blow up in people's faces or Amazon's
33:33
going to start delivering human hearts.
33:36
Oh my God.
33:37
Sorry, I'm so dark right now.
33:39
I think something bad is going to happen and one of them is going to fall out of being,
33:44
you know, the glamorous, whatever they call.
33:46
Yeah.
33:47
Okay.
33:48
And then I'm going to do a fun one.
33:49
I think people are going to start living on Mars.
33:50
Oh, love it.
33:52
Along with SpaceX IPO, they're sending families off to Mars in 12 months.
33:57
I love that.
34:01
I think something like we're going to see a big movement in having robots in houses is
34:10
probably, I think that's not a wild card.
34:14
It's got to be weirder than that.
34:15
Okay.
34:16
I don't think I'm worried.
34:17
I'm not going to have the same amazing cut through with my wild card as I did this
34:21
year.
34:22
Japan was a real like.
34:23
It was a good idea.
34:24
Yeah.
34:25
Okay.
34:26
I hope we got at least one right.
34:27
Same.
34:28
Also, for anyone who's new here, this is not an every episode.
34:32
This is just once at the start of the year.
34:33
Thought you were.
34:34
We'll be back to finance news next week.
34:36
Yes.
34:37
And for anyone who has any productions about the stock market industries, random wild cards,
34:43
please comment wherever you're listening.
34:44
We'd love to hear your productions or thoughts.
34:47
And how cool if we did a prediction, if the whole community got on board, even with
34:51
the first prediction of do you think the stock market will be up and down, up or down
34:54
by the end of 26?
34:55
Imagine if the curve community got it right.
34:57
Imagine if we got the sectors right and we all invest in energy and utilities and then
35:02
we're all absolutely rolling in it next year.
35:05
And we all just take wild bets.
35:06
It's kind of like our version of going to the horses.
35:08
Yeah.
35:09
That's what I should have put as an IPO in 2026.
35:12
All these companies that have done fantastically well, creating companies, they're like
35:18
production market companies.
35:20
So you know how you can do sports betting.
35:22
You can put money against certain productions.
35:24
So I can go up against you and go, hey, do you think it's going to be sunny tomorrow?
35:28
And you'll go, no, and I'll go, yes, and we can make, make bets on it.
35:31
I mean, it's not really gambling.
35:33
We're not really condoning.
35:34
But gambling, but not on sport, not horses or animals.
35:37
It's on random stuff.
35:39
Yeah.
35:40
So random.
35:41
But there was like, the CEO was like one of the most wealthiest self-made female bounder.
35:48
Like she's gone.
35:49
Yeah, it's gone crazy.
35:50
Random that it was led by a woman.
35:51
No, random.
35:52
Hey, hope everyone's having a great start to the year.
35:56
Yes.
35:57
We're so happy to be back.
35:58
If you know anyone who would love to learn about money and investing the economy, you
36:01
know, just be educated when it comes to all things money and business.
36:05
We would love you to send them our podcasts.
36:08
Yes.
36:09
And any requests on content or things you want to hear us talking about, we are all
36:15
ears.
36:16
But yeah, I need to put my pants back on.
36:18
Yes.
36:19
To get home.
36:20
Wish me luck.
36:21
Now, I probably honestly should just open.
36:22
Maybe this is an emergency fund moment.
36:24
Yeah.
36:25
Hey, have a great week.
36:26
You turned.
36:27
And see you probably tomorrow.
36:29
See you.
36:30
Thank you so much for listening to The Curve Weekly.
36:33
Make sure you hit subscribe or follow wherever you're listening.
36:35
So you're always up to date with the latest finance and investing news.
36:38
You feel free to leave a comment to let us know what you thought about this episode
36:41
because we would love your feedback.
36:43
We've got new Curve Weekly episodes for you to listen to every Monday.
36:46
But until then, listen to a raise in the curve.
36:48
These are our in-depth podcast episodes where we chat about all things money.
36:51
We're also around all week on socials if you're hungry for more Curve content and all
36:55
the links are in this podcast's store notes.
36:57
We hope you have a great week and we'll catch you for the next episode of The Curve Weekly
37:00
on Monday.
37:09
Okay, quickly, The Curve was created to empower and educate you about investing but we are
37:13
not financial advisors.
37:15
Our platform exists for educational purposes only and it doesn't provide personalized
37:19
investing advice for your individual needs and should not be relied upon to make an investment
37:23
or financial decision.
37:24
And always remember to do your own research before making any investment or financial decision.
37:29
We're here for any knowledge and support you need but the final call is always yours.
37:33
And thanks for being here.
37:34
You got this.
37:35
Yeah, we know you got this.