RESEND: MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares extend slide; Mercury, Meridian and Air NZ decline

RESEND: MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares extend slide; Mercury, Meridian and Air NZ decline
Sophie Boot
(adds turnover in second line) By Sophie Boot Sept. 14 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares extended their slide with little positive news to stem the decline. Mercury New Zealand, Meridian Energy and Air New Zealand fell. The S&P/NZX 50 Index dropped 38.5 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,210.73. Within the index, 30 stocks fell, 12 rose and eight were unchanged. Turnover was $197 million.  Investors are waiting for positive company news to reassure them as local index selling, which began on Monday following a Wall Street selloff driven...