The NZX 50 rose 66 points, or 0.5%, to 13,375 in early Monday trade, extending gains from the previous session after Wall Street’s strong performance on Friday. Sentiment improved after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s tariffs, though his swift response—announcing a new 10% global levy via executive order—tempered risk appetite.
Domestically, New Zealand’s Q4 2025 retail sales exceeded expectations, supported by stronger discretionary spending. The Reserve Bank last week left the official cash rate unchanged at 2.25%, as widely anticipated, and signaled that policy would remain accommodative, with inflation expected to return to the midpoint of its target band over the coming year.
In China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, markets are set to reopen on Tuesday following the Spring Festival holiday. Sector-wise, healthcare, commercial services, and consumer non-durables led the advance, while energy minerals and consumer durables underperformed. Among notable movers were Winton Land (up 6.1%), Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (4.5%), PGG Wrightson (3.5%), and Fonterra Co-Op (2.6%).
