WELLINGTON (Thomson Financial) - New Zealand shares closed higher in quiet trade Monday, tracking a strong performance in Australia.
The benchmark NZX-50 Index rose 65.20 points or 1.6 percent to 4,058.71.
Turnover was worth 32.01 million New Zealand dollars. There were 62 gainers and 21 decliners.
The market picked up pace once Australia opened with a strong start, but trading was quiet with industrial investors having 'pretty much pulled down the shutters', said Barry Lindsay of First Capital NZ.
Air New Zealand rose 8 cents to 1.98 dollars on positive passenger numbers, while Auckland Airport was up 16 cents at 2.96 after signing confidentiality deed with an international party interested in the company.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare closed 1 cent ahead at 3.48, Trustpower gained 30 cents to 8.55 and Lion Nathan rose 20 cents to 11.10 dollars.
Top stock Telecom bucked the trend and closed 1 cent down at 4.41.
The New Zealand market is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day and will reopen on Thursday.
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