New Zealand share prices closed 0.45 percent higher on Friday amid gains in key overseas markets, although investors kept a cautious eye on the local currency, dealers said. They said the direction of the New Zealand dollar has been a central theme this week after the central bank intervened in the foreign exchange market on Monday for the first time since the currency was floated in 1985.
The NZX-50 gross index rose 18.79 points to 4,212.46 on turnover worth 108.3 million dollars (81.5 million US). Rises narrowly outnumbered falls 59 to 57 among 156 stocks traded.