MARKET CLOSE: NZX 50 at record; MRP, Spark gain amid hunger for yield

New Zealand shares rose to a record, led by MightyRiverPower and Spark New Zealand, as investors sought dividend paying equities in a low interest rate environment. Infratil advanced to a seven-year high as it signalled a capital return.

The NZX 50 Index rose 20.452 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5490.791. Within the index, 20 stocks rose, 21 fell and nine were unchanged. Turnover was $141 million.

The benchmark index has gained 5.1 percent over the past month, fuelled by stocks offering a higher yield as investors look for reliable income in a low interest rate environment.

Stocks held for their reliable income advanced. MRP led the benchmark index higher, rising 3.3 percent to a record $3.13. Meridian Energy advanced 2 percent to $1.775. Spark, formerly Telecom Corp, climbed 2.9 percent to $3.245. Sky Network Television increased 0.8 percent to $6.42.

"New Zealand's market continues to reach new highs," said Bryon Burke, head of equities at Craigs Investment Partners. "It's fair to say it's being spurred on by yield-driven securities."

Genesis Energy fell 1.1 percent to $2.19. Contact Energy slipped 0.2 percent to $6.46.

Infratil advanced 2 percent to $3.09 after the infrastructure investor said it would return $84 million to shareholders via a 15 cents per share special dividend and spend $36 million in an on-market share buyback. The capital return follows the sale of its Australian energy assets for a net $670 million.

"A bit of extra cash given out to shareholders is always good," Burke said.

Mainfreight, which has jumped by a third this year, fell 1.9 percent to $15.74  after the transport group posted first-half earnings that disappointed some investors, with mixed results in the US and more work to do to lift profits in Europe. The Auckland-based company posted a 17 percent gain in first-half earnings before one-time items and foreign exchange movements to $33.7 million on a 3.6 percent increase in revenue to $987 million.

"It has missed market expectations marginally," Burke said. "The stock had been rallying strongly in the lead up to the result and is easing back today."

Australia's ASX/S&P 200 Index was weaker in early trading today, which weighed on dual-listed stocks here, Burke said. Fletcher Building, New Zealand's largest listed company, fell 0.4 percent to $8.57. Kathmandu Holdings, the outdoor goods retailer, dropped 2.3 percent to $2.95. Xero, the cloud-based accounting software firm, was the day's worst performer sliding 4.9 percent to $17.70

Air New Zealand, the nation's carrier, rose 0.7 percent to $2.095. The airline, which has an effective monopoly on New Zealand's regional routes, announced it is ditching seven of those regional routes saying the cost of running its fleet of 19-seat aircraft has cost it more than $1 million a month over the past two years.

Auckland International Airport gained 1.2 percent to $3.96. The nation's busiest gateway said China Southern Airlines will boost capacity on its Auckland to Guangzhou route, adding 14,000 seats on the route during peak period.

Trade Me Group rose 0.3 percent to $3.97. The online auction site launched a new rental prices index today, as part of its plan to capitalise on its property data and widen beyond its e-commerce business.

Outside the benchmark index, Sealegs rose 3.3 percent to 12.5 cents, after announcing its founder David McKee Wright will re-join the company's board and act as chief executive with former Cabinet Minister Wayne Mapp also appointed a director after the head of the amphibious vehicle maker David Glen resigned.

Cavalier Corp rose 3.9 percent to 80 cents, recovering from an intraday drop to 73 cents, the lowest in more than two decades as the carpet maker fails to lift earnings in a competitive market against cheaper overseas imports as high wool prices crimp margins. Late last month the Auckland-based company flagged normalised annual profit in the 2015 financial year will probably fall short of its forecast for a "modest increase" to the $5.8 million result it posted in 2014.

Gentrack Group rose 4.8 percent to $2.20, below its June initial public offer price of $2.40. The stock market operator and regulator found it did not breach continuous disclosure rules when the utilities and airport software firm issued a profit warning some six weeks after debuting on the NZX.

SLI Systems fell 4.2 percent to $1.15. The search engine developer has hired Adaptive Insights executive Neil Thomas as its chief revenue officer and President of North America to help drive sales in the world's biggest economy.

(BusinessDesk)