The S&P/NZX 50 index edged up 0.1% to close at 13,529 on Wednesday, extending a flat performance from the previous session amid a lack of market drivers and shortened trading hours ahead of Christmas Eve. Trading was thin as the market approached the holiday, with New Zealand markets closed on December 25 and 26. Gains were led by industrial services and retail stocks, including Ventia Services (+1.7%), Briscoe Group (+2%), and Warehouse Group (+1.4%). Energy and non-energy minerals also advanced, with Fletcher Building (+0.8%), Santana Minerals (+2%), Manuka Resources (+2.3%), and Channel Infrastructure (+1.7%) posting increases. These gains were nearly offset by losses among index-heavy financials, including Westpac Banking (-2.1%) and ANZ Group (-1.5%), amid expectations of a Reserve Bank of New Zealand rate hike in 2026.
