NZME shares rise after launch of Premium service

NZME rose 3.8 per cent to 55 cents on a volume of 415,00 shares, almost four times its three-month average. Photo / File

New Zealand shares edged higher in the final day of April trading, capping a 1.8 per cent gain for the month that saw the benchmark index cross the 10,000 level for the first time.

The S&P/NZX 50 Index increased 1.06 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 10,013.83. Within the index, 23 stocks rose, 22 fell, and five were unchanged. Turnover was $195.2 million, of which Trade Me Group accounted for $42.4m.

Trading was subdued with a lot of investors in Sydney for the Macquarie Australia Conference, where dozens of company executives provide updates on their businesses.

April was another month of solid gains for the benchmark index, taking its year-to-date increase to 13.7 per cent, ahead of the reporting period for companies with March and September balance dates.

Three of the four major Australian banks will report first-half earnings during the coming week, with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group first up tomorrow. ANZ's local subsidiary is New Zealand's biggest bank, and is most at risk from the Reserve Bank's proposals to hike lenders' capital requirements. The dual-listed shares decreased 0.2 per cent to $28.74 today.

Z Energy, which reports on Thursday, was up 0.5 per cent at $6.33.

"I don't think there'll be a massive outperformance from the companies that are reporting - perhaps the odd surprise," said Grant Davies, an investment advisor at Hamilton Hindin Greene.

"February reporting was solid if unspectacular and that's probably what we'd expect from this period."

Ebos Group shares were halted at $21.42 after the pharmaceuticals and animal care products maker announced an underwritten $150m placement to institutional investors.

Davies said the company has a track record of making acquisitions and the extra headroom from the capital raising will give it more headroom to pursue any purchases.

However, he said retail investors might feel aggrieved that they were excluded and questioned whether the underwrite was necessary given the current market conditions. About $1 billion of bonds are maturing in the coming month and will be looking for new investment options. Proceeds from the $2.56b Trade Me takeover will also be looking for a home, Davies said.

Trade Me slipped 0.2 per cent to $6.43, with 6.6 million shares traded, the most for the day. Its shares will be suspended on May 2 before it formally delists next week after the successful $6.45 per share takeover.

Spark New Zealand rose 0.8 per cent to $3.67 on a volume of 4.6 million shares, while Kiwi Property Group was up 0.3 per cent at $1.54 on a volume of 3.1 million shares.

Fletcher Building fell 2.1 per cent to $5.16 on a volume of 2.4 million shares, about twice its 90-day average. Of other companies trading on volumes of more than a million shares, Meridian Energy fell 0.5 per cent to $4.06, Auckland International Airport decreased 0.1 per cent to $7.97, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare increased 0.1 per cent to $15.81, and A2 Milk Co was unchanged at $16.77.

Investore Property led the market higher, up 2.5 per cent at $1.64 on a volume of 93,000 shares, less than its 126,000 three monthly average. Its manager, Stride Property, rose 0.5 per cent to $2.03.

Metlifecare rose 2.3 per cent to $4.95 and Kathmandu Holdings was up 2.2 per cent at $2.35.

Summerset Group fell 0.9 per cent to $5.61 on a volume of 469,000 shares, more than its 90-day average of 315,000. The retirement village operator and developer told shareholders it has scaled back its development programme for this year in the face of slowing housing and construction markets.

Tourism Holdings fell 3.4 per cent to $4.04 on a volume of 172,000 shares, more than its usual 119,000, while Air New Zealand declined 2.4 per cent to $2.685 on a volume of 820,000, down on its 1.1 million average.

Outside the benchmark index, Asset Plus was unchanged at 60 cents after announcing a $58m acquisition of a building in downtown Auckland from Auckland Council, pending shareholder approval. Manager Augusta Capital was also unchanged at $1.12. None of Auckland Council's five listed bonds traded today.

TeamTalk rose 1.2 per cent to 87 cents after announcing plans to rebrand itself and its CityLink fibre business as Vital.

NZME rose 3.8 per cent to 55 cents on a volume of 415,00 shares, almost four times its three-month average. The media company today launched a subscription for premium content on ts NZ Herald website, which will need marketing investment over the coming year. NZME expects it to generate positive earnings in its second year.