NZX50 joins ASX200 lower as refinery fire weighs

New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 index joined Australia lower as the fire at Viva Energy’s refinery in Geelong knocked energy companies on the other side of the Tasman and a resilient Aussie jobs market kept alive expectations for rate hike next month by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Ebos Group was a drag on this side of the Tasman ahead of the health products maker’s big investor day next week and a2 Milk Co extended its slide since downgrading its earnings outlook, while the dual-listed lenders Westpac Banking Corp and ANZ Group Holdings were part of the bank selloff across the Tasman.

Fletcher Building dipped after reporting signs of improvement in its quarterly volume report, while warning that rising diesel prices threatened to dent earnings.

And Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures showed house prices nudged up in March, even as sales declined and new listings continued to climb.