MARKET CLOSE NZ shares rise as Xero cracks $5 bln value, Wynyard extends rally
Jan. 9 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand shares rose, led by Xero on optimism more investors will focus on the cloud-based
accounting firm’s growth potential. Wynyard Group, another high-growth tech company, surged to a new record.
The NZX 50 Index rose 35.070 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4814.874. Within the index, 21 stocks rose, 20 fell and nine
were unchanged. Turnover was $95 million.
Xero, the top-performing stock on the NZX 50 last year, gained 7.4 percent to $39.25, pushing its market capitalisation
above $5 billion. The stock is up 13 percent this year.
“We expect a huge year for Xero,” said James Schofield, a tech analyst at First NZ Capital. “We believe this global tech
story will continue to gain awareness with global and especially US investors.”
Wynyard jumped 17 percent to $1.73 and has surged 28 percent so far this month, extending gains after saying United Arab
Emirates money exchange GCC Exchange will use its anti-money laundering software to enhance its ability to detect,
investigate, and report suspicious activity.
A2 Corp, which markets milk with a health variant claimed to have health benefits, jumped 7.3 percent to 88 cents.
Kathmandu, the outdoor clothing chain, rose 4.9 percent to $3.41.
Summerset Group, which yesterday posted 50 percent growth in fourth-quarter sales, rose 3.2 percent to $3.59. Retirement
village rival Ryman Healthcare gained 1 percent to $7.93 and Metlifecare rose 0.7 percent to $4.29.
Fletcher Building, the biggest stock on the benchmark index, rose 2 percent to $8.61. Freightways, the courier and data
management firm, rose 3 percent to $4.64. Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s busiest export port, climbed 1.9 percent to
$13.75.
Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund fell 1.7 percent to $5.76 after the world’s biggest dairy exporter said it will “vigorously
defend” a claim by French food processor Danone over last year’s recall of whey protein concentrate. Negotiations for a
commercial settlement failed and the French company is filing papers in the High Court in Auckland.
Sky Network Television, the nation’s biggest pay-TV company, fell 2.3 percent to $5.93. SkyCity Entertainment Group
dropped 1.1 percent to $3.73.
Telecom was unchanged at $2.315. Meridian Energy declined about 1 percent to $1.015 and MightyRiverPower dropped 0.5
percent to $2.08. Contact Energy was 0.2 percent weaker at $5.17.
Among smaller caps, Sealegs Corp soared 28 percent to 17.9 cents.
(BusinessDesk)