FX.co ★ New Zealand Equities Muted

On Tuesday morning, New Zealand's stock market exhibited minor fluctuations. While healthcare and communications sectors posted gains, these were largely balanced out by declines in the logistics and consumer sectors. Investors were processing mixed economic data from China, New Zealand's major trading partner, where industrial production decelerated but still exceeded forecasts, and retail sales lagged behind expectations. Additionally, market participants noted rising cost pressures within New Zealand, as both input and output prices saw their most significant quarterly increase in nearly three years during the first quarter of 2025. Focus also shifted to Australia, anticipating a decision on interest rates from the central bank later in the day, following three consecutive meetings of stable rates. Meanwhile, U.S. futures displayed mixed signals after the S&P 500 on Wall Street extended its winning streak to six consecutive sessions on Monday, in advance of upcoming statements from Federal Reserve officials. Notable stock movements included advances by Meridian Energy and Spark NZ, both up 2.1%, and Ryman Healthcare, which climbed 1.7%. Conversely, Restaurant Brands NZ fell by 3.3%, Sky Network TV decreased by 2.0%, and Port of Tauranga saw a 1.8% decline.