The NZX 50 finished virtually unchanged at 13,495 on Friday, giving back early gains from the morning session. Strength in energy and technology stocks was offset by weakness in the materials and utilities sectors. Sentiment was supported by further declines in oil prices, which eased inflation worries and lowered the perceived likelihood of another interest rate hike.
Nonetheless, investors remained cautious after US PCE inflation reached a three-year high, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated for an extended period. Traders also looked ahead to key data releases next week, including New Zealand’s consumer and business confidence figures, China’s PMI readings, and US June nonfarm payrolls.
Among individual names, Freightways Group advanced 4.3%, Channel Infrastructure added 1.3%, and Ebos Group rose 1.0%. In contrast, Turners Automotive Group, Westpac Banking Corp, and Vulcan Steel declined 2.3%, 1.9%, and 1.6%, respectively. On a weekly basis, the index was flat, pausing after gains over the previous two weeks.
