NZX 50 touches 14k level for first time as F&P Healthcare drives gains

New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 index climbed above 14,000 for the first time in the trading day before easing back from the new record, as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare again drove gains on the local benchmark, with support from Ebos Group and Auckland International Airport.

Travel software firm Serko led the local benchmark higher after saying the Middle East conflict had a minimal impact on its operations in the June quarter.

Asian stock markets were mixed as Australia rallied after a strong result from miner Rio Tinto and as tame inflation tempered expectations for another rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia, while South Korea’s Kospi tumbled as SK Hynix’s soaring profit failed to meet the hype, with investors unnerved by its capital spending programme.

And oil prices were on the rise as Iran launched a surprise missile attack on US forces in the Middle East, while locally, Australia’s EnZed Energy was awarded the first offshore petroleum exploration permit since the coalition government lifted its predecessor’s ban.