The New Zealand sharemarket started firmly, with key stock Telecom at a 21-month high.
The good opening trading came after stocks climbed in the United States as signs of progress on US debt talks and concrete action from Europe on its debt crisis heartened investors.
Telecom shares lifted 4c early
to 264, while another key stock, Fletcher Building, was up 11c to 826 after reaching a 5-1/2-month low 792 at the start of the week.
Online accounting software firm Xero was up 6c to 230, after the company announced yesterday it had bought Melbourne online payroll startup Paycycle for $A1.5 million ($NZ1.9m).
Around 10.15am the benchmark NZX-50 index was up 14.77 points to 3436.11, after lifting 13 points yesterday.
