The NZX 50 rose 16 points, or 0.1%, to 13,578 in early deals on Thursday, remaining at its highest level in two weeks and extending gains from the previous session, mainly supported by financials, consumer discretionary, and communication services. A statement from RBNZ Governor Christian Hawkesby lifted sentiment after he told a parliamentary committee on Thursday that economic recovery is picking up, with indicators showing the economy expanded in Q2 and demand has stabilized. The statement came after Wednesday's interest rate cut and signaled an end to the easing cycle as the economy showed early signs of improvement. On the data front, retail sales rose more than expected in Q3, while consumer confidence will be announced later today. However, gains were capped by declines in the tech sector and energy stocks. Among early gainers were ANZ Group (1.3%), Hallenstein Glasson (1.3%), Australian Foundation Investment (1.0%), Turners Automotive (0.6%), and Westpac Banking Corp (0.5%).