New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.4% to close at 13,718 on Friday, recouping losses from the previous session as traders continue to track on earnings, economic trends, and global events. Sentiment was supported by December local manufacturing data, which hit a three-year high and marked a third consecutive month of expansion, alongside easing food inflation. Across the bourse, gains were led by Contact Energy (+1.1%), Meridian Energy (+1.3%), Mercury NZ (+0.5%), Auckland International Airport (+0.2%), Infratil (+0.6%), EBOS Group (+1.1%), and Vista Group (+2.3%). Markets remain on track for a fourth consecutive weekly advance as investors await China’s Q4 GDP on Monday and New Zealand’s Q4 CPI later in the week. Global growth is expected to remain resilient, according to the IMF’s January 19 forecast, offering a positive signal for exporters and cyclical stocks.
