The S&P/NZX 50 rose 0.3% to 13,587 on Monday, closing at its highest level in four weeks in the first trading session of 2026, as investors returned from the New Year’s holiday. The index was mainly supported by gains in industrial services and non-energy minerals stocks, including Ventia Services (+1.9%), Fletcher Building (+1.9%), and Manuka Resources (+6.3%). Other notable performers included index heavyweight Infratil (+3.2%), as well as Tower Limited (+3.0%), Winton Land (+1.9%), Ryman Healthcare (+1.7%), and Serko (+1.7%). On the downside, losses were led by Third Age Health Services (-6.8%), Freightways Group (-2.8%), Scales Corp (-1.9%), and Seeka Limited (-1.1%). Meanwhile, broader sentiment was dampened after renewed geopolitical tensions, triggered by US strikes on Venezuela, unsettled global markets. Investors also kept an eye on US jobs data due later this week for cues on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
