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New Zealand shares ended flat on Thursday as markets digested deepened geopolitical tensions after the US’s military operation in Venezuela and a mixed US jobs report.
The S&P/NZX 50 Index was little changed to close at 13,716.86.
“It seems the Asian markets are just taking a breather after a strong start to 2026,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, as quoted by Reuters.
On Wednesday, the US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean, one of which was sailing under Russia’s flag, according to a Wednesday Reuters report.
US job openings fell to a 14-month low in November, while hiring remained subdued, signalling cooling demand for labor as employers grapple with policy uncertainty over import tariffs and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in certain roles, said a separate Reuters report.
In corporate news, Gentrack Group (ASX:GTK, NZE:GTK) received notice that Regal Funds Management, a unit of Regal Partners (ASX:RPL), increased its holdings in the company to 9.79% from 8.438%.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (NZE:FPH, ASX:FPH) received notice that AustralianSuper increased its holdings in the company to 7.07% from 6.06%.