The NZX 50 edged up 18 points, or 0.1%, to close at 13,182 on Tuesday, ending in positive territory for the first time in four sessions. Gains followed Wall Street’s extended advance Monday, ahead of the U.S. Fed’s policy meeting that begins later today and concludes Wednesday, with rates expected to remain steady amid geopolitical risks. Sentiment was also supported by upbeat activity data in early 2026 from China, New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with investors largely shrugging off U.S. President Trump’s remarks that his planned visit to the mainland will be delayed by about a month due to the Iran war. The meeting with Xi was previously set for March 31–April 2, following their last talks in October 2025. Sector gains were led by utilities, financials, and industrial services, though weakness in consumer, energy minerals, and healthcare capped upside. Notable movers included Chorus Ltd. (2.0%), Seeka Ltd. (1.9%), Meridian Energy (1.7%), and Napier Port Holdings (1.1%).
