2026.09.3022:55:01UTC+00New Zealand Stocks Start October Lower

The NZX 50 slipped 54 points, or 0.4%, to 13,781 in Thursday morning trade, giving back some of the previous session’s gains. The move followed a weaker close on Wall Street, where relief over softer-than-expected US inflation was tempered by a renewed rise in oil prices.

Investors continued to track developments in the Middle East, with higher crude prices stoking concerns about the inflation outlook. Sentiment was also weighed down by Wednesday’s domestic data, which showed New Zealand business confidence easing to a three-month low, though it remained in positive territory. Markets were additionally looking ahead to US employment figures due later in the week for further guidance on the Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy decision.

Nearly all sectors traded lower, with utilities leading the declines, followed by communication services, real estate, and financials. Notable early losers included Meridian Energy (-1.7%), Hallenstein Glasson (-1.5%), Ebos Group (-1.3%), Fletcher Building (-0.9%), Mainfreight (-0.6%), Channel Infrastructure (-0.6%), and Auckland International Airport (-0.4%).