30.03.202604:27:34UTC+00NZX 50 Closes 1.4% Lower

The NZX 50 dropped 186 points, or 1.4%, to finish at 12,749 on Monday, extending the previous session’s losses as weakness spread across most sectors, particularly healthcare, non-energy minerals, logistics, consumer durables, and financials. Risk aversion deepened as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entered its fifth week, broadening across the Middle East and stoking fears of renewed inflationary pressures and a potential global recession.

Investor caution was also heightened ahead of New Zealand’s March business sentiment survey due Tuesday, after confidence in February slipped to a four-month low. In key trading partner China, March PMI releases are looming amid ongoing concerns over subdued demand. At the same time, inflation risks in Australia are intensifying, driven by LNG supply disruptions in the northwest and rising transport-sector costs.

Among the local heavy decliners were Fletcher Building (-5.1%), Ryman Healthcare (-4.2%), Napier Port Holdings (-3.4%), Summerset Group (-3.2%), and Delegat Group (-3.0%).