NZX 50 Ends Slightly Higher After Recent Slide

2026-03-17 05:10 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The NZX 50 edged up 18 points, or 0.1%, to close at 13,182 on Tuesday, ending in positive territory for the first time in four sessions.

Gains followed Wall Street’s extended advance Monday, ahead of the U.S.

Fed’s policy meeting that begins later today and concludes Wednesday, with rates expected to remain steady amid geopolitical risks.

Sentiment was also supported by upbeat activity data in early 2026 from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with investors largely shrugging off U.S.

President Trump’s remarks that his planned visit to the mainland will be delayed by about a month due to the Iran war.

The meeting with Xi was previously set for March 31–April 2, following their last talks in October 2025.

Sector gains were led by utilities, financials, and industrial services, though weakness in consumer, energy minerals, and healthcare capped upside.

Notable movers included Chorus Ltd. (2.0%), Seeka Ltd. (1.9%), Meridian Energy (1.7%), and Napier Port Holdings (1.1%).



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NZX 50 Ends Slightly Higher After Recent Slide
The NZX 50 edged up 18 points, or 0.1%, to close at 13,182 on Tuesday, ending in positive territory for the first time in four sessions. Gains followed Wall Street’s extended advance Monday, ahead of the U.S. Fed’s policy meeting that begins later today and concludes Wednesday, with rates expected to remain steady amid geopolitical risks. Sentiment was also supported by upbeat activity data in early 2026 from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with investors largely shrugging off U.S. President Trump’s remarks that his planned visit to the mainland will be delayed by about a month due to the Iran war. The meeting with Xi was previously set for March 31–April 2, following their last talks in October 2025. Sector gains were led by utilities, financials, and industrial services, though weakness in consumer, energy minerals, and healthcare capped upside. Notable movers included Chorus Ltd. (2.0%), Seeka Ltd. (1.9%), Meridian Energy (1.7%), and Napier Port Holdings (1.1%).
2026-03-17
Equities in New Zealand Muted After Food Inflation Data
New Zealand shares were little changed in Tuesday’s morning session, holding near 13,174 after three consecutive declines. Investors weighed fresh data showing food inflation accelerated for the second month, rising to 4.5% in February from a downwardly revised 4.2% in January. Focus also turned to Q4 GDP figures due later this week and the U.S. Fed’s policy meeting, where rates are expected to remain steady, but Powell’s remarks may shed light on how the Middle East conflict could affect the U.S. outlook. In top trading partner China, January–February activity data beat expectations, with industrial output, retail sales, and fixed investment all stronger than forecast. On the NZX 50, gains in consumer durables and industrial services were almost offset by weakness in financials and communications. Summerset Group (1.1%), Genesis Energy (0.9%), and Auckland Intl. Airport (0.7%) advanced, while Scott Technology (-1.3%), Delegat Group (-1.2%), and South Port NZ (-0.9%) lagged.
2026-03-16
NZX 50 Finishes Slightly Lower
The NZX 50 was down 23 points, or 0.2%, to close at 13,164 on Monday, marking a third straight decline. Sentiment was rattled by the Middle East conflict, now in its third week with no signs of easing, while oil prices remained elevated above USD 100 per barrel. Vigilance also grew ahead of key domestic data later this week, including New Zealand's February food inflation and Q4 GDP. Adding to concerns, service activity in the country shrank for the first time in three months during February, highlighting lingering fragility in economic growth momentum. Still, losses were offset by a rebound in U.S. futures after Wall Street’s Friday slump. Meanwhile, activity data in China, New Zealand's top trading partner, pointed to solid industrial output, retail sales, and fixed-asset investment in the first two months of 2026. Notable decliners included Hallenstein Glasson Holdings (-2.3%), Tourism Holdings (-2.2%), Sky Network Television (-2.1%), and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (-2.0%).
2026-03-16