The NZX 50 slipped 36 points, or 0.3%, to close at 13,620 on Tuesday, extending the previous session’s decline. Sentiment weakened as U.S. stock futures fell sharply, with escalating tensions in the Middle East stoking inflation concerns via higher oil prices.
On Monday, President Trump said U.S. military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, while the New Zealand government in Wellington noted it was monitoring the crisis and its potential impact on New Zealanders in the region. In Australia, the central bank signaled that an interest rate increase could come as early as this month if inflation expectations drift higher.
Losses were led by consumer durables, logistics, and producer manufacturing, although gains in non-energy minerals and financials helped cap the overall decline. Among the notable underperformers were Channel Infrastructure NZ (-2.3%), Scales Corp. (-2.1%), Infratil Ltd. (-1.7%), and PGG Wrightson (-1.3%).
Traders are now focused on upcoming PMI data from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, for insight into February’s manufacturing and services activity following the recent holiday period.
