22.10.202605:39:00UTC+00NZX 50 Halts Gains, Ends Slightly Lower

The NZX 50 slipped 14 points, or 0.1%, to finish at 13,747 on Thursday, giving back gains from earlier in the day and the previous session as traders digested Q3 inflation data. While annual inflation eased to 3.7% in Q3 from a two-year high in Q2, sentiment remained cautious amid expectations that price pressures could re‑accelerate once the temporary relief from lower fuel costs fades. Inflation also stayed above the RBNZ’s 1–3% target band.

Further upward pressure on oil prices weighed on risk appetite, stoking concern about inflation expectations and the prospect of additional interest rate hikes against a backdrop of intensifying tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia‑Ukraine war. The broader market also mirrored weakness in US stock futures, as investors evaluated earnings results from Meta and Tesla.

Sector-wise, healthcare, financials, real estate, and consumer discretionary stocks dragged on the index. Notable decliners included Hallenstein Glasson (-3.9%), Mainfreight (-3.0%), Fisher & Paykel (-1.1%), Henderson Far East Income (-1.0%), Infratil (-1.0%), and Port of Tauranga (-0.8%).