MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise to record, Xero, Metlifecare gain, Air NZ drops

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise to record, Xero, Metlifecare gain, Air NZ drops
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot July 20 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose to a new record with Xero, Metlifecare and Steel & Tube Holdings gaining while Air New Zealand dropped on its June operating statistics.  The S&P/NZX 50 Index gained 17.84 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,172.67. Within the index, 30 stocks rose, 14 fell and seven were unchanged. Turnover was $130.4 million. Xero led the index, up 3.5 percent to $18.80. The software-as-a-service firm held its annual meeting in Sydney today, where chief executive Rod Drury told investors it wil...