KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand sharemarket started strongly today, after some good news for Telecom and action around Auckland Airport.
Around 20 minutes after the market's 10am opening, the benchmark NZSX-50 index was up 56.2 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 4191.6, after yesterday's 5.77 point easing.
After a brief trading halt at the company's request, shares in Auckland International Airport were up 36c, or 12.4 per cent, to 327 on news the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is making another offer for a stake in the airport.
Infrastructure investor Infratil was also up on airport news, rising 5c to 305, following a report it and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund had increased their combined stake in Auckland Airport to 7.79 per cent.
Shares in top stock Telecom were up 8c to 428 after the Commerce Commission raised the price Telecom could charge to supply wholesale access services to competitors in a final ruling today.
Also putting in a solid early showing was The Warehouse, up 10c to 550.
Stocks to fall early included Hallenstein Glasson down 5c to 445, Sanford down 3c to 432, Sky City down 3c to 547, and Sky TV down 2c to 561.
- NZPA