MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares fall as Fletcher Building speculation weighs

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares fall as Fletcher Building speculation weighs
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard April 19 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand stocks fell as Fletcher Building dropped near a year-low with speculation the firm is vulnerable to a corporate raid and as global equity markets were subdued with the protracted stand-off between the US and North Korea and weaker-than-expected US company earnings. The S&P/NZX 50 index declined 15 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,218.52. Within the index, 29 stocks fell, 13 rose and 8 were unchanged. Turnover was $138 million. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.5 percent in afte...