NZ stocks: Shares close over 3000 mark for Christmas

The sharemarket ended today's quiet Christmas Eve half-day session up over the 3000 mark in what was likely the thinnest trade all year.

The benchmark NZSX-50 gross index was 5.72 points higher at 3004.48 by the market's 1pm close today while the NZSX all capital index was 2.09 points higher at 987.85.

Overall turnover was $20.03 million.

"The volume pretty much speaks for itself," a Wellington broker said, adding it was probably the lowest in one day all year.

He said there was no news, and while favourable sentiment from offshore may have played a part in today's gain, trade was "a continuation of what we have seen recently on the market".

That included recent gains by market leader Telecom which today rose a cent to 598.

Trading will resume on Wednesday, December 29, after statutory holidays for the Christmas period. The broker said the market should see a little more trade then, than it saw today.

The biggest movers today were: ANZ bank down 30c to 2180, Briscoe Group down 2c to 111, Cavalier Corp up 5c to 455, Fletcher Building up 3c to 649, Independent Newspapers Ltd up 8c to 555, Infratil up 4c to 334, Promina down 4c to 576, Ryman Healthcare down 7c to 362, Sky TV up 10c to 605 .

There were 45 rises and 27 falls among the 127 stocks traded.

- NZPA