MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares gain as Fletcher rerated, Diligent at record, FPH rises
Nov. 22 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand stocks rose as investors cheered Fletcher Building’s forecast for higher annual
profits, Diligent Board Member Services climbed to a new record and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare lifted earnings.
The NZX 50 Index rose 25.98 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3997.21, having briefly risen above 4000 for only the second time
since January 2008. Within the index, 31 stocks rose, eight fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $122 million.
Fletcher Building, the biggest company on the exchange by market value, rose 1.4 percent to $7.84, the highest close in
13 months. The company told shareholders at the annual meeting this week that operating earnings will grow by as much as
22 percent in 2013 financial year as new home construction accelerates.
“We’ve really seen the stock being rerated,” said Mark Warminger, portfolio manager at Milford Asset Management. “Going
into the AGM the market was expecting a downgrade to guidance.”
Diligent rose 3 percent to $4.74, a record close. Last week it said revenue soared 145 percent in the three months to
Sept. 30 and margins widened as the company’s corporate governance product begins to gain scale in key markets.
F Healthcare, which makes breathing masks and respirators and gets 51 percent of sales in US dollars, rose 2.1 percent to
$2.49. The Auckland-based manufacturer beat its guidance with an 18 percent gain in first-half profit, making record
sales while keeping a rein on costs and widening its margins.
Profit in the full-year would also beat its estimate, helped by the rollout of new products, it said.
Dorchester Pacific, the finance and insurance company, rose 4 percent to 26 cents after narrowing its first-half loss
and reiterating its target for a full-year profit, helped by earnings from recently acquired debt collector EC Credit
Control.
Pumpkin Patch, the children’s clothing chain, fell 2.4 percent to $1.21 and was the biggest decliner on the index. Sky
City Entertainment, the hotel and casino operator, fell 0.8 percent to $3.77.
Telecom, the biggest phone company on the exchange, rose 0.6 percent to $2.35. Tower, the insurer that agreed to sell
its medical insurance unit, gained 1.1 percent to $1.90.
Port of Tauranga fell 1.1 percent to $13.15, bringing its gain this year to 32 percent. Goodman Fielder, the
Australasian food manufacturer, climbed 6.6 percent to 81 cents.
(BusinessDesk)