MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise, Kathmandu gains on guidance, A2 Milk advances

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise, Kathmandu gains on guidance, A2 Milk advances
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Aug. 4 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares gained after Kathmandu Holdings affirmed earnings would rise in line with its guidance. A2 Milk also advanced. The S&P/NZX 50 index rose 20.69 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,298.09. Within the index, 24 stocks rose, 21 fell and six were unchanged. Turnover was $155.8 million. Kathmandu Holdings led the index, up 5.8 percent to $1.83, a 19n-month high. The retailer said annual profit was between $33 million and $34 million, a gain of as much as 67 percent, as better-run promotions...