2026.01.0823:01:44UTC+00NZX 50 Muted but Poised for Weekly Gains

The NZX maintained a nearly unchanged position, trading at approximately 13,723 during Friday morning sessions. This continued its subdued performance, as increases in consumer discretionary and communication services sectors were counterbalanced by declines in the energy and materials sectors. The broader index made attempts to rise in anticipation of the release of consumer and producer price data from China, New Zealand's primary trading partner, which is expected to influence the outlook for the Chinese economy amidst persistently weak domestic demand. Market participants were also poised for the release of US employment data later today, which will provide guidance on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions at the upcoming meeting. Domestically, a cautious atmosphere prevailed as traders prepared for the upcoming release of food inflation figures and the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) next week, amid an absence of robust catalysts. Notably, Turner Automotive Group saw a 1.1% increase, Chorus gained 0.9%, and Infratil rose by 0.7%, whereas Port of Tauranga and Sanford each declined by 0.5%. However, for the week, the index appears poised for an overall gain as concerns over escalating geopolitical tensions have subsided.