Market close: NZ shares mixed – Nuplex gains, Fletcher falls

BUSINESSDESK: New Zealand shares were mixed, with gainers and decliners evenly matched on the NZX 50 Index. Nuplex Industries rose as the government sought proposals for one of the biggest-ever paint tenders, while Fletcher Building slipped amid criticism of the Christchurch rebuild.

The NZX 50 rose 5.19 points, or 0.2%, to 3474.05. Within the index, 19 stocks rose, 19 fell and 12 were unchanged. Turnover was $97.2 million.

Nuplex, the specialty chemicals company that makes the ingredients used in paint, rose 2.4% to $2.55. The government is seeking the supply of five million litres of paint to be used in the rebuild of Christchurch.

“Additional paint volume is always a plus for our industry and we are looking forward to the opportunity to supply our customers who are successful in the tender process,” a Nuplex spokeswoman said.

Fletcher fell 0.7% to $5.85. Tradespeople in Christchurch have formed a lobby group, claiming the rebuilding process, which Fletcher is overseeing, is eroding their margins and favouring big business.

Telecom, the biggest company on the exchange, rose 2.2% to $2.52. Chorus, the network company spun off from Telecom in November, rose about 1% to $3.16.

“Our market rallied throughout the day due to Telecom moving higher and Sky City and Chorus recovering some lost ground after being sold down over the past few days,” said Bryon Burke, head dealer at Craigs Investment Partners.

“There were some large order flows out of Australian and Asia from midday onwards.”

Still, he said there “no conviction around the world and we have been through a significant period of negative sentiment – the economic data coming through is supporting the rise in prices but it’s not enough so investors are sitting on the sidelines".

Pumpkin Patch, the children’s clothing chain, gained 2.3% to 90 cents as AMP Capital Investors New Zealand disclosed it had a substantial holding of 5.5% of the company.

Warehouse Group, the biggest retailer on the NZX 50, rose 1.2% to $2.57. Guinness Peat Group, the investment company winding up its portfolio, rose 1.1% to 47.5 cents after announcing yesterday its third sale of a UK brewery business.

Xero, the cloud-based accounting services company, fell 2.6% to $5.55, reversing some of yesterday’s gains. Diligent Board Member Services fell 1% to $3.96.

With Xero, “it’s just a matter of investors having faith, you will eventually get a return on profit”, Mr Burke said.

OceanaGold, the operator of the Macraes gold field, fell 6.8% to $2.33, the biggest decliner on the NZX 50. Goodman Fielder slipped 2.9% to 66 cents.

Mainfreight rose 1.7% to $9.36, while Auckland International Airport fell 1.2% to $2.48.