MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares gain as yield hunt sees biggest Spark volume in five years

By Paul McBeth April 5 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose as international investors' hunt for high-yield stocks saw the biggest volume of Spark New Zealand stock change hands in almost five years. Meanwhile, Comvita plunged after the honey products maker warned of lower earnings.  The S&P/NZX 50 index increased 20.52 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,244.54. Within the index, 21 stocks gained, 18 fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was a bigger-than-usual $347 million, due largely to $187 million of trading in Spark shares.  Spark r...