NZ stocks: Market creeps higher at telecom firms

The sharemarket crept higher again in early business today, underpinned by Telecom.

The market leader was up 4c to 608 on news that rival TelstraClear was throwing in the towel on a rival national residential offering.

The benchmark NZSX-50 gross index was up 5.26 points to 3417.83 at 10.10am.

Wrightson, due to cease trading in its own right next Monday, was up 2c to 245.

Hellaby was up 9c to 615 on a very small parcel, as was Toll NZ, up 15c to 365. Ryman Healthcare was down 5c to 475, but there were few other moves of note.

US stocks rose, with the Dow up 24.04 points to 10,443.63.

- NZPA