NZ shares edge up ahead of earnings season; Air NZ at 3-month low

The S&P/NZX 50 increased 13.83 points, or 0.2 percent, to 8,999.17. Within the index, 26 stocks gained, 17 fell, and seven were unchanged. Turnover was $131.5 million.

New Zealand and Australian equity markets were subdued, despite a stronger lead from Wall Street overnight. Company earnings begin next week in Australia including Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Insurance Australia Group, coming in the wake of Monday's royal commission report into financial services.

"Markets in New Zealand and Australia were pretty much flat on the day, on, with the odd exception, very light volumes and very light news flow," said Matt Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management.

New Zealand's earnings season really begins the following week, with Contact Energy the first major company to report. It was unchanged at $6.04 today on 3.9 million shares, more than three times its 90-day average.