New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.5% to close at 13,377 on Thursday, recovering from losses in the previous session as gains were seen across most sectors. Retailer KMD Brands led the advance, surging 5.1%, while market heavyweights Fisher & Paykel and a2 Milk added 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively, providing strong support to the index. Other notable performers included Air New Zealand (+1.7%), Ryman Healthcare (+1.1%), and Skellerup Holdings (+1.4%). Shares of Heartland Group also climbed 2.8% after the bank reported a strong quarterly net profit. Meanwhile, investors globally are closely watching potential progress in talks between the US and China.