KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand sharemarket has risen in early trading on the back of a rise in US stocks.
US stocks rose overnight as investors turned hopeful that the government would provide fresh capital to crisis-hit banks, including the Bank of America, while falling oil prices buoyed hopes that lower energy costs would spur business and consumer spending.
The benchmark NZX-50 was up 6.852 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 2749.687 at 10.10am from 2742.835 at close yesterday.
Top stock Telecom was up 3c to $2.38 after falling to 235 yesterday. Fisher & Paykel Appliances was up 1c to $1.35, Telstra 5c to $4.50, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare 3c to $3.31, Infratil 1c to $1.65 an Kiwitrust 2c to $1.04.
Tourism Holdings was down 1c to 70, Air New Zealand 1c to 90, Port of Tauranga 2c to $6.30, Auckland Airport 1c to $1.70, and Fletcher Building 3c to $5.82.
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In the US, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 12.67 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 8212.81. The S&P 500 Index gained 1.12 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 843.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 22.20 points, or 1.49 per cent, to 1511.84.
- NZPA