NZ shares mixed as blue chips dip
New Zealand shares were mixed as a dip by blue chips Spark New Zealand, a2 Milk and Contact Energy took the sheen off Restaurant Brands New Zealand’s double-digit spike on a takeover bid.
The S&P/NZX 50 index decreased 1.2 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 8910.59. Within the index, 21 stocks gained, 18 fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $108.8 million, of which Restaurant Brands accounted for $17.4 million.
The fast-food operator was the biggest mover, climbing 14 per cent to a record close of $8.67 on almost 10 times the average volume. The company received an indicative offer from Mexico’s Finaccess Capital to buy three-quarters of the business at $9.45 a share.
“It’s about 30 per cent above where we see Restaurant Brands, but it’s a good quality business and you’d expect anyone to look at it,” said Peter McIntyre, an investment adviser at Craigs Investment Partners. “It goes to show if there’s a quality business in our markets — and there are fewer listed by the day — then there’s going to be an approach by a serious investor.”
Restaurant Brands underpinned a positive market for most of the day. However, declines in some of the NZX 50’s larger companies saw a late turn on the index.
Spark fell 0.5 per cent to $3.88 on bigger than normal volumes after pay-TV operator Sky Network Television talked up its production and distribution advantage over broadband broadcasters in premium sports. Sky shares rose 2.3 per cent to $2.25.
A2 gave up some of Wednesday’s gain, falling 1.7 per cent to $10.41. Contact declined 1.8 per cent to $5.63 after releasing its latest operating statistics.
Meridian Energy rose 0.8 per cent to $3.135 with 1.8 million shares changing hands, while Mercury NZ was unchanged at $3.34 on a volume of one million shares. Genesis Energy slipped 0.4 per cent to $2.45 on light volumes after saying it’s buying coal and gas on the wholesale market ahead of expected coal imports in December.
Port of Tauranga rose 3.6 per cent to $5.12 on light volumes after predicting earnings growth at its annual meeting on Wednesday.
Fletcher Building rose 2 per cent to $6.23.
Z Energy fell 4.1 per cent to $6.35, the lowest since March 2016, on half its average volume. The transport fuels company on Wednesday reported lower retail petrol volumes in the September quarter. It may come under increased scrutiny from the Government, which is fast-tracking legislation to give market studies powers to the Commerce Commission.
Synlait Milk fell 2.5 per cent to $9.60 on very light volumes. Ryman Healthcare was down 2.4 per cent to $12.48. Metlifecare slipped 0.2 per cent to $6. Chair Kim Ellis told shareholders the board is considering ways to reduce the stock’s discount to net asset backing, including a potential buyback.
Comvita rose 1.3 per cent to $6.08. —