The S&P/NZX 50 rose 0.6% to 13,664 on Tuesday, closing at its highest level since late November, as broader risk sentiment improved. Fears of wider geopolitical fallout appeared to ease following the US strike on Venezuela. Across the bourse, gains were led by infrastructure-related stocks, with Infratil and Auckland International Airport rising 2.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Non-energy mineral stocks also advanced, with notable gains from Fletcher Building (+1.6%), Santana Minerals (+1.9%), and Manuka Resources (+1.7%). Other top performers included Vulcan Steel (+2.7%), ikeGPS (+3.7%), and Rakon (+1.7%). Elsewhere, investors looked ahead to US jobs data for guidance on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook, as well as upcoming consumer and producer price data from China later this week, which will help shape expectations for New Zealand’s top trading partner.
