MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise; Fletcher gains on consents; F soars to 8-year high
By Suze Metherell
June 6 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand stocks rose as Fletcher Building climbed to a two-week high on government data
showing building activity was growing at its fastest pace in over a decade. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare touched an intraday record.
The NZX 50 Index rose 22.947 points, or 0.4 percent to 5182.437. Within the index, 21 stocks rose, 22 fell and seven
were unchanged. Turnover was $128.8 million.
Fletcher Building, New Zealand's largest listed company, advanced 3 percent to $9.19, its highest since May 26. This
week Statistics New Zealand said first quarter house building activity grew at its fastest pace in almost 12 years as
construction ramped up to rebuild Christchurch, the country's second-biggest city, and to fill a housing shortage in
Auckland. Shares in the construction company have declined 6.9 percent over the past three months.
"The stats from the other day were very strong which is good for Fletcher Building," said Anthony Halls, who helps
manage more than $200 million for Mint Asset Management. "Its been weak recently, so its a bit of a bounce."
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare rose 1.7 percent to an eight-year high of $4.68, after touching an intraday record of $4.71. The
breathing apparatus manufacturer, which exports 98 percent of its product, last month said its 2014 annual profit rose
26 percent to $97.1 million but expects 2015 earnings growth to stall as it struggles against a high kiwi dollar. The
kiwi fell to a three-month low this week.
"It's off its strong result, which is what kickstarted the renewed interest in the stock," Halls said. "The kiwi dollar
is down a little bit from where it was at the time."
A2 Milk Company, which makes milk with added protein for health benefits, advanced 2.7 percent to 77 cents.
"One of their key competitors in Australia have come out with a new marketing strategy which is designed to essentially
position themselves directly against A2," Halls said. "Competition is heating up, which is bad news for the stock, but
what's good for the stock is that they're significant enough now that their competitors are worried."
Pacific Edge, the Dunedin-based biotech company, led the benchmark index higher, up 3.7 percent to 84 cents. Diligent
Board Member Services, the governance app maker, climbed 1 percent to $4.15. Xero, the cloud-based accounting software
firm, declined 1.3 percent to $29.41.
Air New Zealand fell 0.2 percent to $2.21 after the national carrier said it had been awarded $3.2 million towards its
legal costs by the Federal Court in Australia as part of the settlement of an air cargo class action. Air New Zealand is
not making any payment as part of that settlement.
Argosy Property fell 2 percent, or 2 cents, to 97 cents after it shed rights to its 1.5 cent interim dividend, which is
payable June 24.
Off the bourse, Gentrack Group, which develops utilities and airports software, will sell its shares at $2.40 in this
month's initial public offer, raising $36 million of new capital, and letting its owners sell down their holdings.
(BusinessDesk)