Fletcher Building plunged more than 8% after cutting its dividend, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept the official cash rate unchanged as the NZ sharemarket shed half a percent.

The New Zealand sharemarket lacked any real impetus and traded flat while waiting for the local company reporting season to heat up.

The New Zealand sharemarket slipped slightly but leading gentailer Contact produced “a solid set of numbers” on the first day of the latest company reporting season.

The New Zealand sharemarket had a handy gain after four successive down days, with the country’s biggest company, Fonterra, providing a positive earnings outlook.

The New Zealand sharemarket drifted further on uncertainty about United States inflation and the China economy, while the world’s largest investment fund BlackRock added some intrigue.

An edgy New Zealand sharemarket registered another small loss just before the latest company reporting season, but retailer Briscoe Group again came up with the goods.

The New Zealand sharemarket slipped more than half a percent despite a rebound on Wall Street, with fast food operator Restaurant Brands continuing to slide.

Pizza Hut and KFC operator Restaurant Brands plunged more than 12% after dramatically lowering its profit outlook as the New Zealand sharemarket opened the week on a flat note.

The New Zealand sharemarket finished the week with a very small gain, but investors are wary about the continuing rise in long-term bond yields.

The New Zealand sharemarket was down slightly as the United States credit rating downgrade reverberated around weaker offshore bourses.

The New Zealand sharemarket shrugged off weak offshore bourses as the United States credit rating was downgraded because of “a steady deterioration in standards of governance”.

The New Zealand sharemarket retreated more than half a percent on light trading as the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its official cash rate unchanged for the second straight month.

The New Zealand sharemarket jumped nearly one percent as business confidence reached its highest level for nearly two years, albeit still comparatively low.

Leading stock Mainfreight had a turbulent day following its weaker trading update as the New Zealand sharemarket ended the week on a flat note.

Leading stocks Mainfreight and Ryman Healthcare both sounded warnings of a slowing domestic economy and earnings growth, and the New Zealand sharemarket traded flat.

The New Zealand sharemarket perked up after news that Australian inflation is falling faster than most commentators expected.