FX.co ★ NZX 50 Muted but Heads for 3rd Straight Weekly Gain

In morning trade on Friday, New Zealand's stock market held steady at approximately 12,574 points, showing minimal movement following gains in the previous two sessions. This equilibrium was achieved as strong performances in the consumer discretionary and energy sectors counterbalanced downturns in the industrial and tech sectors. Traders exhibited caution amid ongoing uncertainties pertaining to US tariffs and closely watched developments in US-China trade discussions after a call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Investors are also on alert for a batch of economic data from China, New Zealand's primary trading partner, expected next Monday. This data release will include metrics on consumer and producer prices as well as trade statistics. Such figures are significant given the current context of weak domestic demand and persistent uncertainties regarding US tariffs. On the stock front, F&C Investment saw a gain of 1.2%, Delegat Group increased by 1.1%, and Fisher & Paykel advanced 0.6%. In contrast, Contact Energy, Hallenstein Glasson, and Ryman Healthcare each experienced a 0.9% decline. Over the week, the NZX 50 is on track for a 1.2% increase, potentially marking its third consecutive weekly rise.