KEY POINTS:
New Zealand shares maintained their positive tone when the market opened today.
With no lead from Wall Street, which was on holiday, the market carried on where it left off yesterday - rising gently.
The NZSX-50 index was up 8.77 points to 4134.5 at 10.15am.
The market has risen nearly 6 per cent since August 17 as concerns about the international credit crunch and an aversion to New Zealand dollar assets has dissipated.
Brokers said the market was in a holding pattern.
Auckland Airport rose another 2c to 303 to add to its 4c gain yesterday, when Canada Pension Plan Investment Board signalled an alternative partial bid to Dubai Aerospace's offer.
Market leader Telecom was up 3c to 441 to add to yesterday's 10c rise after it confirmed its $1.1b capital return would be paid out on October 5.
But the other two heavyweights were down, with Fletcher Building off 3c to 1185 and Contact Energy down 1c to 910.
AMP's 8c fall to 1229 and Sky TV's 5c rise to 541 were the only two top 50 stocks to move more than 4c.
Among the smaller stocks, Utilico rose 4c to 56c.
- NZPA