The New Zealand sharemarket settled back into steady trading after large volumes and sharp price movements the day before, which included index changes and the sale of a nearly 15% shareholding in Precinct Properties.

As February’s varied earnings season wrapped up, Thursday’s trading on the New Zealand stock exchange produced more of the month's flavour: slow and steady decline.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to keep its official cash rate on hold while also signalling a slightly lower interest rate track gave NZ stocks a boost at the end of what has been a disappointing reporting season.

Speculation around Fletcher Building drove the stock higher while the broader market weakened ahead of Wednesday’s rate call from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

The New Zealand sharemarket was marginally down to start the week as investors digested another set of corporate earnings.

New Zealand stocks ended with a slight gain in stark contrast to major international markets, which rallied sharply on the back of an explosive earnings report from US chip maker Nvidia.

The New Zealand sharemarket had its second positive day on the trot on Thursday as shares were buoyed by favourable corporate earnings and speculation about a Fletcher buyout à la française.

The New Zealand sharemarket calmed down and made a small gain, as blue-chip stock Ebos Group provided normal service with a solid first-half financial result.

A dogged New Zealand sharemarket, again falling more than half a percent, continued to show no mercy on soft earnings updates, with KMD Brands (formerly Kathmandu) hitting an all-time low.

Global marketer a2 Milk surged, and leading retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare tumbled on contrasting earnings updates as the company reporting season heated up.

The New Zealand sharemarket bounced back with a gain of more than half a per cent, helped by a recovery in Fletcher Building and a sharp rise from utilities investor Infratil.

The New Zealand sharemarket doesn’t like surprises, and it got another one with the resignation of long-time Skellerup Holdings chief executive David Mair.

Fletcher Building’s $120 million half-year loss and executive resignations sent the New Zealand sharemarket into a spin, posting a fall of more than a half percent.

The New Zealand sharemarket had a topsy-turvy day after Vulcan Steel kicked off the latest reporting season with an expected sharp fall in earnings.

It was confession day on the New Zealand sharemarket with earnings revisions, a civil legal proceeding and further uncertainty surrounding Fletcher Building, all adding to a near 1% fall.

The New Zealand sharemarket was rattled by the suggestion from ANZ that the Reserve Bank of NZ could still hike the official cash rate twice this year.