NZX Ends 1.1% Higher as Consumer Stocks Rebound

New Zealand's stocks rose 144 points, or 1.1%, to close at 13,866 on Tuesday, rebounding from losses in the previous session, mainly buoyed by gains in consumer staples, consumer discretionary, and real estate. The broader index moved up from its lowest level since July 21, touched a day earlier amid a plunge in consumer staples. Traders engaged in bargain hunting, with consumer staples rebounding sharply, surging 6.8% after plunging in the previous session. However, a downbeat session on Wall Street overnight due to escalating Middle East tensions and rising Treasury yields capped gains. A2 Milk jumped 10.1%, recovering sharply from a 5.7% plunge on Monday after the company reported a 44% plunge in net profit for the 12 months ended June. Other top movers were Hallenstein Glasson (5.4%), EBOS Group (2.3%), Vulcan Steel (1.8%), and Mainfreight (0.9%). Meanwhile, Mercury NZ rose 2.6% after Mercury Energy posted a jump in operating earnings for the 12 months ended June.

New Zealand's stocks rose 56 points, or 0.4%, to 13,779 in Tuesday morning trade, erasing losses from the previous session, mainly supported by gains in real estate, utilities, and consumer staples. The broader index moved up from its lowest level since July 21, touched a day earlier amid a plunge in consumer staples. Traders engaged in bargain hunting, with real estate (+1.0%) and consumer staples (+0.6%) rebounding after plunging in the previous session. Monday's data continued to lift sentiment as food inflation eased to a 19-month low while credit card spending rebounded. However, a downbeat session on Wall Street overnight due to escalating Middle East tensions limited gains ahead of the release of the FOMC meeting minutes later this week. Among the early gainers were Gentrack Group (1.5%), ANZ Group (0.9%), A2 Milk (0.5%), and Mainfreight (0.4%). Meanwhile, Mercury NZ rose 1.6% after Mercury Energy posted a jump in operating earnings for the 12 months ended June.

New Zealand's stocks dropped 132 points, or 1.0%, to close at 13,722 on Monday, halting gains from the previous session, mainly weighed down by consumer staples, real estate, consumer discretionary, and industrials. Consumer staples slumped 3.9%, with A2 Milk plunging 5.7% after the company reported a 44% plunge in net profit for the 12 months ended June. The decline reflected supply chain disruptions affecting sales of its China-label infant formula. The broader index declined to its lowest level since July 21, tracking a fall on Wall Street on Friday amid disappointing economic data. Fresh data also weighed on sentiment, as New Zealand's private sector growth eased in July. However, easing food inflation to a 19-month low and a rebound in credit card spending limited the fall. Other bottom performers were Freightways Group (-4.5%), ANZ Group (-2.4%), Mainfreight (-2.0%), Westpac Banking Corp. (-1.6%), and Fisher & Paykel (-1.2%).