A2 Milk drops 3% as market edges lower
Ryman Healthcare and Heartland Bank day’s top improvers
New Zealand shares fell, led lower by continued selling in a2 Milk Co and Comvita, while Ryman Healthcare and Heartland Bank gained. The S&P/NZX50 Index dropped 2.4 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 8613.32. Within the index, 24 stocks fell, 16 rose and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $140 million.
A2 Milk Co led the index lower, down 3 per cent to $10.71. Last week, the milk marketer’s shares slumped 13 per cent after it missed expectations, prompting some analysts to reassess what have been optimistic assumptions for the company’s outlook.
“There was a bit of weakness in a2 after it slightly [missing the mark] last week, and it’s still under a bit of pressure there,” said Grant Davies, investment adviser at Hamilton Hindin Greene.
Comvita dropped 2.6 per cent to $6.07, having fallen 8 per cent on Monday when the honey products exporter said it has pulled out of talks with an unnamed third party looking to take it over as it couldn’t reach a deal on price. Kathmandu Holdings fell 1.9 per cent to $2.53, Contact Energy declined 1.4 per cent to $5.56, and Aus-
tralia and New Zealand Banking Corp dropped 1.3 per cent to $30.39.
Ryman Healthcare was the best performer, up 1.8 per cent to $11.60. Heartland Bank gained 1.7 per cent to $1.83. On Friday, the bank posted it had lifted third-quarter profit 11 per cent on continued lending growth and said it expects annual earnings to be at the upper end of its previously advised range of $65m to $68m.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp rose 1.3 per cent to $13.35,
Precinct Properties New Zealand
advanced 1.2 per cent to $1.28, and Skycity Entertainment Group was up 1 per cent to $3.99. Outside the benchmark index,
Steel & Tube Holdings shares have been halted from trading at $1.98 pending a board review of the steel products maker’s financial performance, which the company expects will change earnings guidance.
Veritas gained 45 per cent to 14.5 cents, after doubling to 10 cents on Monday when it announced Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings will lend it $27.5m to repay bank debt and fund expansion in the hospitality sector, if Veritas’ shareholders agree.