MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares fall as F&P Healthcare loses latest patent dispute

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares fall as F&P Healthcare loses latest patent dispute
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Oct. 23 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares fell to a four-month low, with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare among the hardest hit after the breathing mask maker lost the latest round in a wide-ranging patent dispute.  The S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 129.08 points, or 1.5 percent, to 8,673.18. Within the index, 34 stocks fell, 11 gained and five were unchanged. Turnover was $146.3 million.  F&P Healthcare fell 4.4 percent to $13.41 on average volumes. The Munich Regional Court upheld a patent claim by rival ResMed in the two-year...