MARKET CLOSE: Blue-chip stocks Meridian, A2 lead market lower

Fri, 18 Oct 2019

New Zealand shares fell, led by blue-chip stocks such as Meridian Energy and A2 Milk Co, as weaker than expected Chinese growth weighed on Asian markets. The S&P/NZX 50 Index dropped 74.74 points, or 0.7 percent, to 11,067.12. Within the index, 25 stocks fell, 19 rose, and six were unchanged. Turnover was $137.1 million. Stocks across Asia fell after China said gross domestic product grew at an annual 6 percent pace in the third quarter, its slowest pace in almost 30 years and falling short of economists' 6.1 percent forecast. Chi...

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