KEY POINTS:
The local sharemarket was down at opening today following two days of profit taking.
The benchmark NZSX-50 index was down 12.98 points to 3562 at 10.15am.
United States stocks fell on Wednesday after United Parcel Service Inc slashed its earnings forecast, and oil prices hit a record high above US$112 ($142) per barrel, darkening the outlook for corporate results.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 49.18 points, or 0.39 per cent, ending the day at 12,527.26.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 11.05 points, or 0.81 per cent, finishing at 1354.49. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 26.64 points, or 1.13 per cent, at 2322.12.
In New Zealand, top-stock Telecom was down 5c to 375, Contact down 3c to 860, Fletcher Building 5c to 825, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare 1c to 292, The Warehouse 9c to 570 and Sky TV 5c to 475.
Restaurant Brands was up 2c to 82 after this morning announcing full year net profit, excluding non trading items, up 69 per cent to $11 million.
Sky City was up 2c to 400, carpet-maker Cavalier jumped 13c to 270, Infratil 1c to 218 and KiwiTrust 1c to 131.
- NZPA