NZ shares up early

Shares in casino operator Sky City were an early highlight after the sharemarket opened, with the company saying first quarter revenue was 3.3 per cent up on a year ago and net profit was up 3.7 per cent.

Sky City lifted 5c early to $2.95, with medical equipment company Ebos also lifting 5c early, to a new record $7.30, adding to a string of recent gains after Ebos last week announced a 20c special dividend.

Around 10.20am, the benchmark NZX-50 index was up 1.29 points to 3291.29, after gaining 9.7 points yesterday.

In early trading today NZ Refining Co was up 4c to $3.64, Restaurant Brands added 2c to $2.77, and Michael Hill lifted 2c to 80.

Among leading shares Contact Energy edged up 1c to $5.87, Fletcher Building lost 3c to $8.17, and Telecom slipped 1c to $2.06. Hallenstein Glasson lost 2c to $4.43 and Freightways was down 2c to $3.02.

***

In the United States, stocks ended little changed as cautious investors pulled back before expected upheaval from next week's US elections and a likely announcement of more stimulus from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 0.1 per cent to 11,113.95, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 0.1 per cent to 1183.78, and the Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.2 per cent to 2507.37.

- NZPA