MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares outperform Australia as ANZ kicks off bank earnings

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares outperform Australia as ANZ kicks off bank earnings
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Oct. 31 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares outperformed their Australian counterparts as Australia & New Zealand Banking Group kicked off reporting by the 'four pillars' of the banking sector.  The S&P/NZX index advanced 103.93 points, or 1.2 percent, to 8,752.31. Within the index, 35 stocks gained, nine fell and six were unchanged. Turnover was $167.4 million.  Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher, with New Zealand one of the stronger performers. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was largely flat in afternoon trading a...