KEY POINTS:
The sharemarket opened higher as the focus turned to September quarter inflation data, due today.
The NZSX-50 index was up 7.827 points at 4313.443.
Telecom rose 1c to 445. Fletcher Building rose 17c to 1295 amid media reports that it has some big commercial contracts in the pipeline.
Auckland Airport was initially untraded but it remains a focus as there was further media speculation at the weekend about a contest for board seats at the next annual meeting.
Countering the negatives for the airport were reports that the new mayor of North Shore does not support the Whenuapai project. Infratil, a supporter of Whenuapai, rose 2c to 307.
The New Zealand dollar is up again, pressuring export stocks.
Port of Tauranga rose 5c to 715.
The annual rate of inflation is expected to have risen in September quarter figures due later today.
A rise in US stocks on Friday also provided a positive backdrop.
- NZPA