New Zealand shares rose on Monday on the strength of technology stocks, while Asian peers were mixed amid deflationary pressures in China.
The S&P/NZX 50 Index was up 0.9%, or 116.19 points, to close at 12,515.97.
Barring non-energy minerals and commercial services, all sectors rose, led by a 3.4% increase in electronic technology shares.
In Asia, the Shanghai SSE and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.6% and 2.1%, respectively, while Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 0.5%.
Data showed Monday that China's consumer price index fell 0.7% year on year in February, marking its first negative reading since January 2024.
In domestic news, total lending in New Zealand declined to NZ$8.61 billion in January from NZ$13.8 billion in December 2024, data from the Reserve Bank showed Monday.
The vacancy rate across Auckland's central business district rose to almost 14% in the six months to December 2024 from a little over 13% in the prior half-year period, according to a study by Colliers International published March 6.
In corporate news, Fonterra Co-operative Group (NZE:FCG) ended almost 4% higher after it raised its fiscal 2025 earnings guidance to NZ$0.55 to NZ$0.75 per share from a prior range of NZ$0.40 to NZ$0.60 per share.
Air New Zealand (ASX:AIZ, NZE:AIR) rose past 3% after disclosing that it acquired 365,466 ordinary shares as part of its on-market and off-market share buyback program.
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