12.03.202604:19:14UTC+00NZX 50 Falls 0.7% at Close

The NZX 50 fell 94 points, or 0.7%, to close at 13,199 on Thursday, giving back the previous session’s gains as U.S. stock futures weakened and oil prices surged back toward USD 100 per barrel. The renewed oil rally followed fresh supply disruptions linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, despite global efforts to steady energy markets.

Risk sentiment was further weighed down by a decline in New Zealand manufacturing sales in Q4 2025, reversing earlier strength and pointing to softer momentum heading into year-end. Investors are now looking ahead to key data releases next week, including February food inflation and Q4 GDP.

Losses on the day were partly limited by the fact that U.S. annual inflation remained stable in February, before the latest energy shock. Selling pressure was broad-based, with financials, transport, non-energy minerals, and healthcare among the main laggards.

Among notable movers, Sky Network TV dropped 3.2%, Gentrack Group declined 3.0%, Serko Ltd. fell 2.9%, Meridian Energy lost 2.6%, and Fletcher Building shed 2.4%.