MARKET CLOSE: NZX50 cracks 8,000, led by market darlings A2, Xero

MARKET CLOSE: NZX50 cracks 8,000, led by market darlings A2, Xero
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Oct. 9 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose, with the benchmark index surpassing 8,000 for the first time, led higher by export-orientated, investor favourites A2 Milk Co and Xero. The S&P/NZX 50 Index gained 32.94 points, or 0.4 percent, to 8,010.28. Within the index, 23 stocks gained, 17 fell and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $171.2 million. Mark Lister, head of private wealth research at Craigs Investment Partners, said the local market's strength came despite the official election results released on Saturday,...