MARKET CLOSE NZ stocks rise before Xmas, Fletcher gains on outlook

MARKET CLOSE NZ stocks rise before Xmas, Fletcher gains on outlook
Dec. 24 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand stocks rose on Christmas Eve, pushing the NZX 50 Index to a three-week high, as the outlook for the construction industry helped lift Fletcher Building and Warehouse Group led some retailers higher in the peak spending season. The NZX 50 rose 45.30 points, or about 1 percent, to 4767.935 in the shortened pre-Christmas session. Within the index, 35 stocks rose, four fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was a modest $34 million. Fletcher, the biggest company on the index, rose 2.1 percent to $8.72, the high...