NZ sharemarket eases slightly

The New Zealand sharemarket failed to keep pace with markets in Asia today as investors waited to see if the Reserve Bank  will cut the official cash rate (OCR) tomorrow.

The benchmark NZX-50 index closed down 6.748 points, or 0.2%, at 3414.424. Turnover was worth $157.2 million, of which $52 million was in Fletcher Building. There were 34 rises and 42 falls among the 108 stocks traded.

"After overseas markets had a good performance overnight the New Zealand market has been treading water in advance of the OCR announcement," said Ross Cuthbert at Craigs Investment Partners.

The central bank is expected to cut the OCR to 2.5% from 3% because of the Christchurch earthquake though economists are divided on the need for such a move.

Mainfreight was a star performer again, rising 28c to a new high of 910. The company's shares ended up 23c yesterday and up 47c on Monday after it announced it had agreed to buy Netherlands-based transport and logistics firm Wim Bosman Group.

"People are very pleased at their European acquisition and they have proven themselves well in terms of previous acquisitions," Mr Cuthbert said.

A number of stocks were ex-dividend today, including Steel & Tube, Contact Energy, Air NZ, Port of Tauranga and Opus International. Profit-taking took its toll on Fletcher Building, which eased 6c to 878.

NZX gained 10c to 200 as boss Mark Weldon takes a leave of absence to lead efforts to raise money for the Christchurch earthquake appeal.

OceanaGold was up 4c early and finished up 9c at 390. Goodman Property rose 2c to 94, Kiwi Income Property Trust rose 2c to 102, DNZ Property rose 1c to 122 and Property for Industry rose 1c to 116.

TrustPower rose 3c to 716 and Vector rose 1c to 243. Hallenstein Glasson rose 3c to 357 even though it said trading at the start of its second half year had been challenging.

Telecom eased 2c to 208, Kathmandu 2c to 199, Sanford 5c to 490, Nuplex 7c to 323 and SkyCity 2c to 342. Freightways fell 13c to 315 and Xero 10c to 252. .