The NZX 50 rose 95 points, or 0.7%, to 13,676 in Monday morning trade, recouping the prior session’s losses and rebounding from Friday’s trough, its lowest level since June 29. The advance was led primarily by materials, healthcare, and financial stocks. Sentiment was supported by fresh data showing that New Zealand’s private-sector expansion remains solid, with services activity recording its strongest increase in eight months. Tourist arrivals also climbed to a four-month high, further underpinning confidence.
Gains were limited, however, as investors stayed cautious ahead of this week’s release of New Zealand’s Q2 GDP figures and a series of key economic indicators from China, the country’s largest trading partner. A decline in US stock futures, set against rising oil prices and mounting concerns around AI safety, also tempered risk appetite. Among the early movers, EBOS Group advanced 2.3%, Fisher & Paykel added 1.6%, Freightways Group gained 0.8%, Infratil increased 1.2%, and F&C Investment rose 0.6%.
