MARKET CLOSE: Tower falls 19% to hit 12-year low

MARKET CLOSE: Tower falls 19% to hit 12-year low
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Sept. 8 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares fell as several large cap stocks gave up dividend rights, while insurer Tower dropped to a 12-year low. The S&P/NZX 50 Index dropped 36.39 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,534.72. Within the index, 29 stocks fell, 17 rose and four were unchanged. Turnover was X Tower led the index lower, down 19 percent to $1.11. The insurer warned today it expects a $16.2 million hit to its after-tax profit due to increased claims provisions for the Canterbury earthquake following greater-than-exp...