MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise on Meridian's smelter deadline, Kathmandu earnings

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise on Meridian's smelter deadline, Kathmandu earnings
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot March 22 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares extended their rally after Meridian Energy, which has been in demand from index-weighted funds, said its smelter contract may stay in place for longer. Kathmandu Holdings rose after posting its first-half results. The S&P/NZX 50 Index grew 22.3 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,664.26. Within the index, 28 stocks rose, 12 fell and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $186.3 million.  Meridian Energy led the index, advancing 2.8 percent to $2.555. Some 35 million shares in the company...