New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index inched up 0.2% to close at 13,396 on Thursday, ending a two-day losing streak amid strength in retirement stocks, with Wall Street’s rise adding further support. US equities ended higher on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut its policy rate by 25 bps and signaled a less hawkish outlook than some had expected. Ryman Healthcare gained 2.5% after its CEO increased shareholding with a significant purchase. Peer Summerset Group climbed 3.2%. Market heavyweights also contributed to the advance, including Fisher & Paykel (+0.3%), Auckland Intl Airport (+0.6%), Contact Energy (+0.75%), Mercury NZ (+0.3%), and Spark NZ (+0.4%). On the economic front, manufacturing sales in New Zealand increased 0.9% year-on-year in the third quarter, after a 0.5% fall in the previous period, indicating a modest improvement in domestic industrial activity.