On Thursday, the NZX 50 index experienced an uptick, increasing by 49 points, or 0.4%, to reach 13,467 in early trading. This rise successfully counteracted declines from the preceding three days, as investors anticipated the forthcoming release of Q4 domestic inflation figures. Analysts projected inflation to settle at 3%, fueling optimism for potential interest rate cuts at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) upcoming meeting—a move intended to bolster GDP growth in the face of elevated unemployment rates.
The general index followed the upward trajectory seen on Wall Street the previous night. This boost was prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s address at the World Economic Forum, where he proposed a potential agreement concerning Greenland and decided to retract certain tariff proposals.
Overall, most sectors were trading positively, including financials, consumer discretionary, industrials, and utilities. In terms of economic indicators, New Zealand’s tourist arrivals saw a year-on-year increase of 8.2% in November, while electronic card spending experienced a slight decline of 0.1% in December. Among notable stock performances, Auckland International Airport advanced by 1.0%, Contact Energy increased by 0.9%, Skellerup Holdings and Summerset Group each climbed 0.8%, and Ebos Group rose by 0.5%.
