Shares fall as covid case causes concern

The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 75.64 points, or 0.6 percent, to 13,323.46. Within the index, 26 stocks fell, 16 rose and eight were unchanged. Turnover was $118 million, lighter than usual with Australian traders off work for a national holiday.

Investor confidence faded over the weekend, as the pandemic delivered yet another round of bad news, said BNZ economist Doug Steel. 

Globally these problems ranged from lockdown announcements to delays in the vaccine rollout, while closer to home a Northland woman tested positive for the virus.

As of Tuesday afternoon, all of the woman's close contacts had so far tested negative. Despite this, Australia suspended quarantine-free travel for travellers from NZ for at least 72 hours.