NZ shares edge up on thin trade over Euro fears

Comvita announced it has bought Waikato Honey Products. Photo / Martin Sykes

New Zealand shares were mixed in light trading as investors weighed the global risks, including the potential derailment of Europe's plan to staunch its debt crisis.

The NZX 50 Index edged up 2.62 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 3311.51. Within the index, 46 stocks rose and 56 fell. Turnover was $59 million, almost half the daily average in October.

Banker ANZ fell 0.9 per cent to $27.

NZX gained 1.8 per cent to $2.29 after releasing its monthly trading metrics, which showed total trades in equities jumped 39 per cent to 58,624 last month, even as the value of turnover declined 1.5 per cent to $2 billion or an average $100 million a day in October.

Vital Healthcare, the health clinic investor, fell 1.8 per cent to $1.18. Canadian private real estate firm NorthWest Value Partners has taken a 9.6 per cent stake in Vital.

Investment company Hellaby Holdings, which held its annual meeting yesterday, saw its share price drop 13 cents (4.7 per cent) to $2.66 on very light volume.

Comvita rose 0.7 per cent to $2.72. The honey products company said it had bought Te Awamutu-based apiary Waikato Honey Products for an undisclosed sum to increase its supply of Manuka honey.

Heavyweight Telecom rose 0.2 per cent to $2.615. Contact Energy fell 0.5 per cent to $5.65 and Fletcher Building was unchanged at $6.45.

Lyttelton Port was unchanged at $2 after chairman Rodger Fisher told shareholders at their annual meeting that the lead insurer for the South Island's biggest port was disputing a progress payment for damage from the Christchurch earthquakes.

Pyne Gould rose 3.1 per cent to 33c after major shareholder George Kerr lodged his $47.2 million takeover offer at 33c apiece. Kerr has agreement of holders of 37.5 per cent of the stock for his offer.

Australia's Goodman Fielder was the biggest gainer in percentage terms, rising 4.6 per cent to 69c.

Jeweller Michael Hill International gained 3.5 per cent to 89c and clothing chain Hallenstein Glasson Holdings rose 2.4 per cent to $3.89.