MARKET CLOSE: NZ stocks mixed; Kathmandu falls

MARKET CLOSE: NZ stocks mixed; Kathmandu falls, Pike gains on NZOG endorsement

By Jason Krupp

Oct. 27 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand stocks were mixed, with Kathmandu Holdings leading decliners amid weaker Australian consumer stocks, and Pike River Coal gaining after its biggest shareholder reiterated its support.

The NZX 50 Index fell 5.10 points, or 0.1%, to 3280.338. Within the index, 13 stocks fell, 21 rose and 14 were unchanged. Turnover was a higher-than-average $104.5 million.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staple Index fell 1.6% and the Consumer Discretionary Index fell 0.9%. Retailers have been hit by the strength of the Australian dollar, which reached parity with the greenback this month, lifting the cost of imported goods in the face of tepid consumer spending.

Kathmandu, the outdoor clothing retailer listed in New Zealand and Australia, fell 5.8% to $1.79 on the NZX 50. Pumpkin Patch declined 0.5% to $1.95.

“It looks like people are cautious on stocks with an exposure to the Australian market right now, especially with the weaker consumer outlook,” said Paul Richardson, who helps manage $300 million in equities for BT Funds Management.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, the maker of respirators and breathing masks, fell 3.3% to $3.19. Nuplex Industries Ltd., the industrial chemical and resin maker, fell 0.9% to $3.34.

Restaurant Brands NZ Ltd., the fast food franchise owner, rose 2.2% to $2.75, pacing gainers on the NZX. Tower Ltd., the general insurer, rose 1.6% to $1.88 and Sky Network Television Ltd., the pay-TV operator, rose 1.5% to $5.29.

Pike River Coal Ltd. rose 1.9% to $1.05 after New Zealand Oil Gas Ltd. told its shareholders that Pike is still worth supporting despite production repeated delays with its hydro mining operations.

NZOG's exposure to Pike is $85 million and it booked $11.5 million in the last year as its share of the coal miner's losses. Shares in NZOG rose 1.6% to $1.31.

Contact Energy Ltd., New Zealand’s third biggest listed company, rose 0.3% to $5.87 after the utility company said it is expecting to see the financial benefits of developments worth $420 million in the second half of the current financial year.

Air New Zealand Ltd., the national carrier, was unchanged at $1.34 after the airline reported that it carried 7.4% more passengers during the month of September than last year, boosted by an 8.2% uptick in short haul numbers.

A rebound in tourism helped the sector eclipse dairy products as the biggest exporter earner in the year to March 31, according to government figures.

Foreign visitors lifted their spending by $149 million to $9.5 billion, with an inflow of Australians taking advantage of their strong currency jumping across the Tasman for bargain holidays, Statistics New Zealand said. Dairy exports amounted to $9 billion in the same period.

L&M Energy, the coal seam gas explorer, was unchanged at 13.5 cents after the company yesterday increased gas reserves at its western Southland basin permit by 60 percent to 274 petajoules, following an independent resource reserve review.

Burger Fuel Worldwide was unchanged at 50 cents on the NZX alternative market, its highest level since mid-May, after the fast food chain announced it will open a second store in Saudi Arabia.

(BusinessDesk)

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