NZX-50 Ends Higher but Logs Weekly Loss

The NZX 50 rose 60 points, or 0.5%, to close at 13,162 on Friday, erasing losses from the previous two sessions and rebounding from its lowest level since May 26, touched a day earlier, mainly boosted by financial, healthcare, and industrial stocks. Hopes that US-Iran peace talks could help end the war lifted sentiment following the Iran-Lebanon ceasefire. However, declines in the materials, technology, and consumer staples sectors capped the gains. Traders also awaited the release of US jobs data later in the day, as well as US inflation data and China's inflation and trade balance figures due next week. Domestically, investors anticipated the release of New Zealand economic data next week. Among the notable gainers were Ebos Group (3.1%), Infratil (1.5%), Mainfreight (1.1%), Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (0.9%), and Auckland International Airport (0.9%). For the week, however, the index fell 0.6%, marking its first decline in three weeks.

The NZX 50 was almost flat, trading around 13,103 in Friday morning trade, after retreating in the previous two sessions and staying at its lowest level since May 26, as gains in consumer staples and financials were offset by declines in industrials and communication services. Traders continued to assess the possibility that New Zealand could face a new 12.5% tariff from the US after the US Trade Representative said that 54 economies, including New Zealand, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on goods produced with forced labour. Traders also awaited the release of US jobs data later today, as well as US inflation data and China's inflation and trade balance figures due next week. Among individual stocks, Freightways Group fell 2.2%, Ryman Healthcare dropped 2.1%, and Westpac Banking Corp. shed 0.6%, while A2 Milk and Ebos Group rose 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively. For the week, the index fell 1.1%, marking its first decline in three weeks.

The NZX 50 fell 13 points, or 0.1%, to close at 13,102 on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session and marking its lowest level since May 26, mainly weighed down by consumer staples, financials, real estate, and communication services. The broader index tracked a downbeat session on Wall Street overnight amid renewed escalation of the Middle East conflict. Traders assessed the possibility that New Zealand faces a new 12.5% tariff from the US after the US Trade Representative said 54 economies, including New Zealand, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on goods produced with forced labour. Wednesday's economic data also continued to weigh on sentiment, as New Zealand's merchandise terms of trade dropped more than expected in the first quarter of 2026. A2 Milk lost 2.9%, Westpac Banking Corp. fell 2.2%, Briscoe Group dropped 1.5%, Hallenstein Glasson declined 1.3%, Infratil shed 0.7%, while Mainfreight and ANZ Group each fell 0.4%.