NZX 50 charts new record

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New Zealand shares rose, nudging the S&P/NZX 50 Index to a new record, as Comvita continued to benefit from yesterday's earnings upgrade and Port of Tauranga said first-quarter volumes pointed to stronger annual profit in 2018.

The NZX 50 gained 9.05 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8124.04. Within the index, 21 stocks rose, 19 fell and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $152 million.

Comvita rose 3.4 per cent to $7.85, adding to its gain yesterday after the Te Puke-based company raised its 2018 earnings guidance on a recovery in "grey channel" sales to China and improved North American sales. That gave it the confidence to expect to resume dividend payments in the current financial year, it told shareholders at their annual meeting yesterday.

"It's a nice healthy bounce but they are going to have to earn back their stripes after a number of downgrades," said David Price, a broker at Forsyth Barr. He said one key risk for the honey products company was the weather and he noted a recent Niwa forecast was for more rainfall than usual (which bees dislike).

The benchmark index has gained about 18 per cent this year and Price said the global outlook still favours equities over asset classes. That included improving investor appetite for risk, a better outlook for global economic growth and not enough inflation to provoke sharp increases in interest rates. Added to that, some 80 per cent of US companies that have reported their earnings met or beat expectations, he said.

Spark New Zealand rose 3 per cent to $3.76 and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group gained 1.1 per cent to $33.72.

Port of Tauranga advanced 1.6 per cent to $4.46. Chief executive Mark Cairns told shareholders at their annual meeting in Tauranga today that after a strong first quarter New Zealand's biggest port company expects full-year earnings to be $88m-to-$92m, up from $83.4m in 2017. "We expect cargo and earnings growth to continue" and "we still have ample headroom to handle increasing volumes," Cairns said.

Scales Corp rose 0.5 per cent to $3.75 after the Ministry for Primary Industries released its quarterly outlook, showing the government department anticipates exports to rise 9.2 per cent in the June 2018 year. PGG Wrightson was unchanged at 58 cents.

Sky Network Television slipped 0.4 per cent to $2.79 after the pay-TV operator reiterated its falling subscriber numbers at today's annual meeting. Chair Peter Marcourt, who was re-elected to the board, told shareholders that directors are considering the trading performance and outlook on a regular basis to weigh up how quickly debt should be reduced and dividends paid.

SkyCity Entertainment Group rose 0.3 per cent to $3.81 ahead of tomorrow's annual meeting. The hotel and casino operator reported a marginal lift in annual earnings for the 2017 year, which led to predictions the stock would be downgraded by analysts. It's still rated an average 'hold' in nine recommendations compiled by Reuters.

Restaurant Brands New Zealand was the worst performer on the day, falling 1.9 per cent to $6.87 after the fast-food operator reported a 41 per cent increase in first-half profit, benefitting from recent expansion into Australia and Hawaii.

Outside the benchmark index, Fliways Group rose 3.9 per cent to $1.08 after chief executive Duncan Hawkesby delivered an upbeat outlook for the transport company to shareholders at today's annual meeting, saying revenue across its three divisions was tracking ahead of a year earlier.

New Zealand Oil & Gas fell 0.7 per cent to 76.5 cents after ASX-listed Zeta Resources said it's partial takeover bid failed and it would let the offer lapse, paving the way for investors to accept a sweeter bid from OG Oil & Gas. The Cushing family's H&G vehicle, which had entered into a lock-up deal with Zeta, will sell part of 9.2 per cent stake to OGOG.

Veritas Investments sank 23 per cent to 6.2 cents after the food and beverage investor was censured and fined by NZX Regulation after taking it's time to tell the market of its commitment to sell or close the Nosh supermarket chain as a condition of continued support from its bank.