MARKET CLOSE: NZX50 runs away with 22% gain in 2017

MARKET CLOSE: NZX50 runs away with 22% gain in 2017
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Dec. 29 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares dipped in the final trading day of 2017 on lacklustre holiday volumes, rounding out a 22 percent annual gain for the benchmark index in what's been a stellar year for a2 Milk Co. The S&P/NZX 50 Index slipped 10.45 points, or 0.1 percent, to 8,398.08. Within the index, 21 stocks fell, 16 gained, and 13 were unchanged. Turnover was a lighter-than-usual $45.3 million.  Milk marketer a2 was the top performer on the benchmark index for 2017, soaring 279 percent as earnings upgrades...