MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise as A2 soars to record, Nuplex gains; NXZ, Kathmandu fall

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise as A2 soars to record, Nuplex gains; NXZ, Kathmandu fall
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Dec. 23 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose as A2 Milk Co soared to a record on continued bullish sentiment since its guidance upgrade last week.  Meridian Energy and Nuplex Industries advanced, while NZX and Kathmandu Holdings fell. The S&P/NZX 50 Index was up 47.37 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6195.34. Within the index, 23 stocks rose, 22 fell and five were unchanged. Turnover was $113.1 million. A2 Milk, which counts Australia as its biggest market, rose 11.1 percent to a record $1.80, with 12.8 million shares chan...