KEY POINTS:
Shares in Auckland International Airport were up as much as 15c early today on news of a deal that would see Dubai Aerospace Enterprise invest up $2.6 billion for a stake of up to 60 per cent.
Shortly after the sharemarket's 10am opening nearly 800,000 of the airport's shares had changed hands at prices up to $3.46.
Despite that, the benchmark NZSX-50 index was only just in positive territory around 15 minutes after opening, up 1.4 points to 4321.67.
That was about 20 points shy of its all-time high and followed a 26 point gain on Friday.
No shares were traded in Tourism Holdings early -- with the price having closed on the Friday at 270c -- as the market awaited word on whether a takeover bid from MFS Living and Leisure has been successful.
MFS Living's $2.80 a share bid was conditional on obtaining 90 per cent acceptance.
Other stocks to rise early today included Fletcher Building up 2c to 1275, Infratil 4c to 316, Port of Tauranga 2c to 670, Steel & Tube 7c to 490, and The Warehouse 2c to 605.
Stocks to fall early included Air New Zealand, off 9c to 260, Contact Energy, also off 9c to 936, Fisher & Paykel Appliances down 5c to 371 and F&P Healthcare 1c to 322.
Guinness Peat Group was down 2c early to 197, Hallenstein Glasson 5c early to 470, Pumpkin Patch 2c to 344, and Telstra 24c to 501.
- NZPA