New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 slipped 0.1% to close at 13,507 on Wednesday, giving back earlier gains as weaker-than-expected US retail sales and a global, AI-driven technology sell-off triggered foreign fund outflows from Asian markets. Sentiment was further weighed by data from China — New Zealand’s largest trading partner — where producer prices in January fell 1.4% year-on-year, the smallest decline in 18 months but still indicative of subdued growth and softer demand.
Investors remained cautious ahead of several key economic releases: January’s US unemployment rate due later today, US inflation data scheduled for later this week, and next week’s policy decision from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
At the sector level, healthcare, technology, and energy minerals retreated, while gains in financials and utilities provided partial support. Notable decliners included Tourism Holdings (-4.1%), Serko (-3.6%), EBOS Group (-3.1%), Fisher & Paykel (-1.6%), and Scales Corp (-1.5%).
