MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares gain as US earnings buoy confidence; A2, F&P gain

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares gain as US earnings buoy confidence; A2, F&P gain
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth April 15 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares followed Wall Street higher as better than expected US company earnings buoyed investor confidence. Local growth stocks, including A2 Milk and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, gained.  The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 78.02 points, or 0.8 percent, to 9,846.35. Within the index, 29 stocks gained, 13 fell and eight were unchanged. Turnover was $129 million.  Wall Street set a positive tone for Asia, with the S&P500 up 0.7 percent on Friday after a strong earnings report from JP Morgan, wher...