NZX 50 Down 1.5% This Week as Growth Momentum Stalls

2026-03-20 04:20 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

The NZX 50 dropped 62 points or 0.5% to close at 12,990 on Friday, marking losses for the second straight session and notching its lowest level since early September.

Markets posted the third consecutive weekly decline, down by 1.5%, as New Zealand’s recovery showed signs of strain.

GDP grew 0.2% qoq in Q4, missing the central bank’s 0.5% forecast and slowing sharply from 1.1% in Q3, underscoring the drag from high rates and cost pressures.

Trade data added to concerns, with February imports surging 12% yoy while exports edged up 0.4%.

Still, the downside was capped by reports that Wellington is exploring measures to ease household burdens from Middle East-driven cost increases.

Meantime, U.S stock futures rose modestly after new comments from Israeli PM Netanyahu eased concerns over the U.S.-Iran war.

Logistics, non-energy minerals, and healthcare drove losses, with notable decliners including Turners Automotive (-2.3%), Delegat Group (-2.2%), and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (-1.9%).



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NZX 50 Down 1.5% This Week as Growth Momentum Stalls
The NZX 50 dropped 62 points or 0.5% to close at 12,990 on Friday, marking losses for the second straight session and notching its lowest level since early September. Markets posted the third consecutive weekly decline, down by 1.5%, as New Zealand’s recovery showed signs of strain. GDP grew 0.2% qoq in Q4, missing the central bank’s 0.5% forecast and slowing sharply from 1.1% in Q3, underscoring the drag from high rates and cost pressures. Trade data added to concerns, with February imports surging 12% yoy while exports edged up 0.4%. Still, the downside was capped by reports that Wellington is exploring measures to ease household burdens from Middle East-driven cost increases. Meantime, U.S stock futures rose modestly after new comments from Israeli PM Netanyahu eased concerns over the U.S.-Iran war. Logistics, non-energy minerals, and healthcare drove losses, with notable decliners including Turners Automotive (-2.3%), Delegat Group (-2.2%), and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (-1.9%).
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New Zealand Shares Head for Third Weekly Drop
New Zealand stocks slipped 51 points, or 0.4%, to 13,000 in early Friday trade, tracking Wall Street’s losses Thursday as elevated oil prices and Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment and clouded prospects for rate cuts. The NZX 50 hit its lowest level since early September, pointing to a third weekly fall of 1.3% so far, after weak Q4 GDP underscored fading economic momentum amid high rates and cost pressures. Meanwhile, February trade data showed that imports in New Zealand surged 12% yoy on stronger demand from China, the EU, the US, and South Korea, while exports rose 0.4%, due to weaker sales to China and Japan. Sector losses in non-energy minerals, industrial services, and healthcare offset gains in consumer durables, commercial services, and logistics. Fletcher Building (-1.2%), Sanford (-1.1%), Turners Automotive (-1.0%), and Spark NZ (-0.9%) led declines. Traders now await the mainland’s monthly lending rate review later today after nine straight months at record lows.
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Broad Losses Drag NZX 50 to One-Month Low
The NZX 50 slumped 264 points, or 2.0%, to end at 13,052 on Thursday, snapping a two-session rebound and hitting a one-month low amid losses in almost all sectors. Sentiment weakened after data showed New Zealand’s economy lost momentum in Q4 2025, with GDP rising just 0.2% qoq, below the 0.4% consensus and sharply slower than Q3’s 1.1% gain. Meanwhile, the annual growth stood at 1.3%, missing estimates of 1.7%, reflecting the impact of elevated rates and cost pressures. Middle East tensions also weighed, as Brent crude held around USD 100 per barrel after strikes on key energy infrastructure stoked fears of a supply squeeze. Leading decliners included Spark NZ (-5.3%), Gentrack Group (-5.1%), T&G Global (-4.5%), and Summerset Group (-4.3%). Investors now await New Zealand's trade data for February due Friday, following a narrower January gap. A monthly fix on key lending rates in main trading partner China is also expected after the central bank held them at record lows in February.
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