New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.3% to end at 13,257 on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session to its lowest close since late September, tracking a decline on Wall Street despite local data showing the economy returned to growth. The index followed a weak lead from Wall Street, weighed down by further drops in AI stocks, as investors awaited US inflation data later today for clarity on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path. In economic news, New Zealand’s economy expanded 1.1% in the September quarter, following a 1% contraction in the previous period. The figure was better than market expectations of a 0.9% growth and the Reserve Bank’s forecast of a 0.4% increase. Among the notable decliners were Fisher & Paykel (-0.9%), Infratil (-1.8%), a2 Milk (-2.2%), and Air New Zealand (-0.9%). Dairy giant Fonterra lost 0.2% after it lowered its 2026 farmgate milk price forecast due to high supply.