New Zealand stocks slipped 54 points, or 0.4%, to 13,462 in early Friday trade, extending losses for a second session as weakness in consumer durables, producer manufacturing, and retail trade weighed on sentiment. The benchmark NZX 50 is on track for a slight weekly decline, reversing gains from the prior week, amid caution ahead of the U.S. PCE index release, a key inflation gauge that precedes the Fed’s final policy meeting of the year. Investors also awaited key economic indicators from China, including CPI, PPI, and trade data. Meanwhile, U.S. futures were little changed as markets assessed whether valuations in the AI sector have become overstretched. Locally, Q3 manufacturing sales data due next week will be closely watched after the sector posted its first drop in three quarters during Q2, reflecting weak demand and lingering supply chain pressures. Among notable decliners were Gentrack Group (-1.4%), Vector Ltd. (-1.2%), Skellerup Hlds. (-1.1%), and Sanford Ltd. (-0.8%).