The NZX 50 edged down 12 points, or 0.1%, to finish at 13,187 on Friday, extending its losing streak to a second session as weakness in logistics, industrial services, and transport weighed on sentiment. Early declines were partially offset by gains in energy minerals and consumer services, but the benchmark still logged a second straight weekly loss, shedding roughly 2.5%.
Downward pressure intensified amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which kept crude oil prices elevated and reinforced inflation concerns. At the same time, fresh trade investigations launched by Washington into excess industrial capacity and forced labor heightened the risk of new tariffs on key partners, notably China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner.
Investors now turn their attention to key domestic releases due next week, including New Zealand’s February food inflation data and Q4 GDP figures. Among the standout decliners on Friday were Freightways (-2.9%), Hallenstein Glasson (-2.5%), Tourism Holdings (-2.5%), and AFT Pharmaceuticals (-2.2%).
