MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise; Steel & Tube, Nuplex gain on positive reports

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise; Steel & Tube, Nuplex gain on positive reports
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Feb. 18 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose as reporting season continued to provide plenty of news for the local market. Steel & Tube Holdings, Trade Me Group and Nuplex Industries climbed, while Skellerup Holdings dropped. The S&P/NZX 50 Index advanced 25.5 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,111.09. Within the index, 23 stocks rose, 18 fell and nine were unchanged. Turnover was $213 million.  Steel & Tube Holdings led the index, up 7.9 percent to $2.19. The steel products distributor lifted first-half profit 47 percent,...