New Zealand shares rose 35 points or 0.3% to 12,938 in early deals on the final trading day of August, extending gains from the prior session after Wall Street’s S&P 500 hit a record close Thursday. Sentiment was lifted by a largely positive U.S. earnings season and data showing the American economy grew faster than first estimated. Also, local data revealed that the business mood climbed to a five-month high in August, rising for the third month on stable inflation expectations and stronger export intentions. Consumer durables, healthcare, and logistics led the advance, with solid gains from Delegat Group (6.3%), Summerset Group (2.4%), and Ryman Healthcare (2.1%). For the month, the NZX is tracking its fourth straight monthly rise, up about 0.9%, on optimism that the RBNZ will extend monetary easing amid sluggish activity and political pressure. Further upside was capped by caution ahead of China’s PMI print while local data showed consumer sentiment notched a 10-month low in August.