NZ stocks: Market eases in listless trading

The sharemarket dipped in listless, early trading today.

The benchmark NZSX-50 gross index was down 4.70 points at 3376.36 at 10.15am.

Market number two, Contact Energy, fell back 2c to 668 after yesterday's 15c rise. Market leader, Telecom, was down 1c at 591 and No.3, Fletcher Building, was down 2c to 750.

Carter Holt Harvey was unchanged, having risen 3c to 256 yesterday, ahead of the close of Rank's 250/share bid on Friday.

Michael Hill lost another 5c to 715 after investors yesterday wiped 60c from the jewellery retailer's price on a profit downgrade following poor Christmas sales in Australia.

CDL Investments was up 4c to 42c and fishing company Sanford was down 10c at 415.

- NZPA