Find financial news and analysis across NZ and Australia.
17 results for “manufacturing”
New Zealand's manufacturing sector slowed significantly in April 2026, with the PMI dropping to 50.5. Escalating costs linked to Middle East conflict are impacting supply chains and new orders.
The ASX 200 ended its longest losing streak since 2018 on May 1, 2026, rising 0.74% to 8,729.80 points as BHP and Rio Tinto led a materials sector recovery.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (FPH.NZ) delivered a strong FY26 performance with a 24% net profit increase and robust FY27 revenue guidance. The stock has responded with a 13.43% weekly surge, trading comfortably above its key moving averages.
While global volatility drags down the main NZX50 index, New Zealand's regional economies are staging a quiet recovery. Driven by strong primary sector returns and resilient local SMEs, the provinces are proving to be the real engine of the country's economic survival in 2026.
James Hardie Industries plc has missed analyst statutory EPS expectations by 60% for FY26, reporting US$0.19 per share. Despite revenues meeting forecasts at US$4.8 billion, analysts have revised their FY27 projections downwards.
New Zealand business confidence plummeted to -10.6 in April 2026, a 43-point swing from March, as Middle East conflict and fuel supply disruptions trigger a sharp cost shock.
Australia's economic growth slowed sharply to 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026, missing market expectations. Extreme weather disruptions and weak consumer spending dragged on activity, posing a policy dilemma for the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The S&P/ASX 200 index experienced a significant 1.62% rebound to close at 8,731.70 points on Friday, May 29, 2026. This surge, driven by mining and banking gains, was fueled by hopes of a tentative 60-day US-Iran ceasefire extension.
The NZX50 index closed up 0.3% on Friday, May 22, 2026, driven by a 9% surge in Oceania Healthcare shares. Concurrently, Fletcher Building announced its Construction Division sale to VINCI Construction is unconditional at an increased value of approximately $334 million.
The New Zealand Government has introduced the Fair Trading Amendment Bill, proposing to raise corporate penalties for misleading pricing to $5 million or three times the commercial gain. The legislation aims to deter deceptive practices and protect consumers from pricing errors that cost tens of millions of dollars annually.
BHP Group Limited (BHP.AX) has reached an all-time high of 59.78 AUD, driven by record copper prices and a 22% increase in half-year profit. While technical indicators like the RSI (14) at 70.77 suggest overbought conditions, the company's strategic pivot to future-facing commodities continues to attract investor interest.
AFT Pharmaceuticals (AFT.NZ) enters its FY26 results period with a 39.69% annual gain and record half-year revenues. Technical indicators remain bullish with the price at NZ$3.66 trading above key moving averages.
The NZX 50 index climbed 0.9% to 13271 points on Thursday, led by an 11% surge in Gentrack and a 3% gain for Infratil. While technology and infrastructure stocks thrived on AI optimism, consumer-facing companies like SkyCity and Tourism Holdings saw declines.
The RBNZ's May 2026 Financial Stability Report highlights a resilient financial system facing a slower recovery due to Middle East conflicts and 50-year high diesel prices.
ASX 200 futures indicate a higher open on Wednesday following record-high closes for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Easing oil prices and strong technology earnings from AMD and Palantir are driving global market optimism.
Mainfreight (MFT.NZ) shares rose 3.39% to NZ$61.00 as technical indicators turn bullish ahead of the May 28 FY26 earnings release. Despite margin pressure in the first half, analysts maintain a 'Buy' consensus with a NZ$73.24 price target.
Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (JDO.AX) faces a technical bearish trend but gains fundamental support following a 'Strong Buy' upgrade from Morgans. With a 3.15% NIM and growing SME loan book, the bank is navigating economic headwinds with increased provisions.