NZX 50 Rises Ahead of GDP Data

The NZX 50 climbed 72 points, or 0.5%, to 13,556 in Wednesday morning trade, erasing losses from the previous four sessions and moving away from its lowest level since June 24, touched a day earlier ahead of the release of Q2 GDP data. New Zealand's economic data will be released on Thursday, with the market expecting GDP to accelerate 2.9% yoy, while easing to 0.1% qoq. Fresh data also lifted sentiment, as New Zealand consumer confidence moved away from a three-year low, though it remained in pessimistic territory. However, expectations of a Fed interest rate hike later this week, amid higher oil prices, pressured sentiment. The index was also capped by a downbeat session on Wall Street overnight due to a surge in US Treasury yields. Financials, real estate, and consumer staples mainly boosted the index, with notable gains from Infratil (5.2%), Vector (2.5%), Sanford (1.5%), Delegat Group (0.7%), and Scales Corp. (0.6%).

The NZX 50 dropped 76 points, or 0.6%, to close at 13,484 on Tuesday, retreating for the fourth consecutive session and touching its lowest level since June 24. The index tracked a downbeat session on Wall Street on Monday, due to a sell-off in chipmakers after AI companies called for an industry-wide slowdown. Traders were cautious ahead of the release of New Zealand’s Q2 GDP later this week, with the market expecting quarterly growth to ease. Disappointing data from China, New Zealand’s top trading partner, also pressured sentiment, as retail sales growth came in below expectations, while investment and house prices continued to decline. Expectations of a Fed interest rate hike later this week, amid higher oil prices, also further pressured sentiment. Energy, materials, and financials mainly weighed on the index, with notable losses from Summerset Group (-3.6%), Infratil (-3.5%), Channel Infrastructure (-2.6%), Chorus (-1.7%), and Freightways Group (-1.2%).

The NZX 50 fell 24 points, or 0.2%, to 13,537 in Tuesday morning trade, down for the fourth straight session and lingering at its lowest level since June 26, tracking a decline on Wall Street overnight due to a sell-off in chipmakers after AI companies called for an industry-wide slowdown. Traders were cautious ahead of the release of New Zealand’s Q2 GDP later this week, with the market expecting quarterly growth to ease. Caution also prevailed ahead of a slew of economic data from China, New Zealand’s top trading partner, as well as the Fed’s monetary policy meeting later this week. On the data front, New Zealand electronic card spending fell in August after rising in the previous month. Energy, healthcare, and financials mainly weighed on the index, with notable losses from Channel Infrastructure (-2.3%), Infratil (-1.1%), Fisher & Paykel (-0.8%), Bankers Investment (-0.9%), and Hallenstein Glasson (-0.7%).