Xero shares leaped 12.8% today as investors reasoned that if Sam Morgan puts more money into a company it must be a winner.Xero shares closed up 18c at 159 in a market that otherwise struggled to replicate a strong performance by Wall Street.The benchmark
Xero shares leaped 12.8% today as investors reasoned that if Sam Morgan puts more money into a company it must be a winner.
Xero shares closed up 18c at 159 in a market that otherwise struggled to replicate a strong performance by Wall Street.
The benchmark NZX-50 index closed up 13.548 points, or 0.45%, at 2994.904. Overall there were 54 rises and 19 falls among the 106 stocks traded, on turnover worth $71.66 million.
The accounting software company told shareholders at its annual meeting yesterday that the founder of TradeMe is upping his stake by buying 1.4 million shares at $1.45 each from founders and executives.
"Morgan's move is certainly giving investors confidence to buy the stock," said Grant Williamson, director at Hamilton Hindin Greene. "He obviously has a number of followers."
Otherwise the local market's performance was "nothing" compared to Wall Street's rise.
Low volumes are a continuing feature of the local market ahead of the corporate reporting season. Yet Xero yesterday paid tribute to the role the market played in its development.
"A key part of Xero's strategy has been to have the capital to do things properly. This is why Xero listed in mid 2007 within a year of being founded, raising $15 million to establish the business and create its initial product suite," chairman Phil Norman told the meeting.
Telecom rose 1c to 196, Fletcher Building fell 1c to 763 and Contact Energy was unchanged at 566.
Rakon rose 3c to 98 after predicting record shipments from its Auckland factory this month.
New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay, which today outlined the makeup of a board committee to consider the offer from Olam International, rose 1c to the offer price of 55.
Pike River Coal rose 2c to 95, NZX rose 3c to 149, The Warehouse rose 3c to 356 and SkyCity rose 4c to 296.
Air New Zealand, which today advocated airline part-ownership of Queenstown Airport, rose 3c to 111, while Auckland Airport, which has invested in Queenstown Airport, rose 4c to 196.
The losers were fewer in number but included Ebos, down 3c to 615, Hallenstein Glassons, down 3c to 360, and Cavalier Carpets, down 1c to 250.
OceanaGold continued a strong run, rising 5c to 405.
