NZ shares rise on Tourism Holdings, Sky TV gains

Sky Network Television gained about 4 per cent to $2.89.

New Zealand shares rose in subdued holiday trading, keeping the S&P/NZX 50 Index on track for an annual gain of about 22 per cent, as US tax cuts lifted sentiment for equities and for companies that do business in the US, such as Tourism Holdings.

The S&P/NZX 50 index gained 32.1 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 8,408.53. Within the index, 31 stocks rose, 14 fell, and five were unchanged. Turnover was a lighter-than-normal $54 million.

Tourism Holdings gained 3.3 per cent to $5.96. The shares of the campervan rentals company have climbed more than 8 per cent since it said tax reform in the US will boost annual profit by between $2.3m and $3m based on the current distribution of its earnings across US states, current state tax rates, and exchange rates.

The rental motorhome operator anticipates its total effective tax rate in the US will fall to about 27 per cent from 40 per cent.

"Tourism Holdings is one of the few that's said the tax reforms are likely to be positive for them," said Chris Timms, an adviser at Craigs Investment Partners. "That's why we've seen them rise - plus a tourism sector that's still pretty buoyant."

Timms said with trading volumes light, the direction of the market can be fickle "but the general feeling is still reasonably positive."

News for US markets "is reasonably healthy, particularly with the tax changes."

Institutions are reasonably settled heading into what is the quarter-end and the end of the financial year, he said.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, which gets much of its sales in the US and in US dollars, rose 0.6 per cent to $14.23. Restaurant Brands gained 2.1 per cent to $7.30.

Sky Network Television, the pay-TV company, gained about 4 per cent to $2.89, leading the index higher. The stock has tumbled 39 per cent this year as its market becomes inundated with streaming video rivals.

Among retirement village operators Summerset Group rose 1.8 per cent to $5.60 and Ryman Healthcare gained 0.2 per cent to $10.57.

SkyCity Entertainment Group rose 1.7 per cent to $4.13 and Chorus rose 1.2 per cent to $4.21. Genesis Energy rose 2.9 per cent to $2.53.