FX.co ★ NZX50 Ends Marginally Higher

On Monday, New Zealand's leading S&P/NZX 50 index saw a modest increase of 0.1%, closing at 13,461. This slight recovery follows losses in the previous session, driven by positive developments in sectors like health care, industrials, communications, and consumer services. Among the notable performers were EBOS Group, rising by 1.4%, Contact Energy with a 1.2% gain, Fisher & Paykel at an increase of 0.8%, Mainfreight also up by 0.8%, Fletcher Building which improved by 0.5%, Spark NZ adding 0.5%, and a 0.1% uptick for Auckland International Airport. Concurrently, oil prices maintained their upward trend due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, raising alarms about potential increases in energy costs, inflation worries, and broader market unpredictability. Geopolitical risks and the rise of protectionist sentiment—topics underscored at Davos—are exerting pressure on global risk perspectives, which could lead to currency fluctuations, uncertainties in exports, and subdued equity growth. Investors are paying close attention to the week's forthcoming local economic reports, particularly those on the trade balance, business optimism, and consumer sentiment.