MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise; Meridian gains, Spark falls

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise; Meridian gains, Spark falls
By Suze Metherell May 13 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose, paced by Meridian Energy and Contact Energy as investors bought into income-paying stocks. Spark New Zealand extended its decline as traders weighed its earnings outlook.  The NZX 50 Index rose 5.528 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5751.759. Within the index, 28 stocks rose, 19 fell and three were unchanged. Turnover was $129.5 million.  The Reserve Bank announced new lending restrictions it will use to target Auckland property investors as it looks to take the heat out of t...