This is the eighth year that Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has conducted its Investor Confidence Survey, capturing the views of more than 1,500 retail investors across Australia and New Zealand to better understand how they are navigating an increasingly complex investment environment. The survey provides insight into investor sentiment, the factors shaping investment decisions and the tools investors use to make them.

In Australia, confidence in local capital markets remains stable, while confidence in offshore markets has rebounded from the decline recorded in 2025. In New Zealand, confidence in local capital markets continues to improve, although it remains below pre-COVID levels. As in Australia, confidence in offshore markets has also strengthened this year.

These results are encouraging and demonstrate the resilience of investors despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. More than half of New Zealand investors and almost two-thirds of Australian investors expect to increase the scale of their investments over the next 12 months, highlighting continued optimism.

Confidence in publicly listed companies remains high in both countries, as does confidence in the audited financial reports they release. For the eighth consecutive year, independent auditors were ranked as the most trusted group among those with a role in protecting investors. However, the proportion of investors ranking auditors as number one has eased slightly. While auditors continue to hold a unique position of trust, the result serves as a reminder that confidence in the profession cannot be taken for granted. Maintaining that trust requires high professional standards, robust oversight and a continued focus on quality, enabling auditors to fulfil their critical role in supporting confidence in financial markets.

This year marks the second year that we have asked investors about their use of artificial intelligence (AI) to inform investment decisions. Adoption continues to grow, with nearly 50 per cent of New Zealand investors and more than 60 per cent of Australian investors using AI at least sometimes when making investment decisions. ChatGPT remains the most widely used tool, followed by Copilot, while Claude continues to gain traction. Among investors who do not use AI, or who have reduced their use of AI tools, concerns about the reliability of AI-generated information remain the primary reason. The rapid growth in AI adoption reinforces the importance of trustworthy information and the need for reliable data that is subject to independent assurance.

The global political landscape continues to be viewed as the most significant threat to the Australian and New Zealand economies, followed by inflation. Trade tensions and cyber-security risks also remain prominent concerns for investors.

The enduring trust placed in auditors, the rapid adoption of AI and the continued influence of global economic and political developments all point to the critical importance of high-quality financial reporting and assurance. At CA ANZ, we remain committed to advocating for reliable, transparent and decision-useful information that supports informed investment decisions and strengthens confidence in capital markets across Australia and New Zealand.