The NZX 50 rose 32 points, or 0.2%, to 13,518 in Tuesday morning trade after being almost flat in the previous session, mainly supported by gains in energy, utilities, communication services, and healthcare. Expectations of US monetary policy easing this week continued to lift sentiment. Monday’s Chinese trade data, New Zealand’s top trading partner, also supported the market after coming in better than expected. However, traders were awaiting Chinese consumer and producer price figures for November as a guide to the mainland’s economic outlook amid persistently weak domestic demand. Meanwhile, financials and consumer discretionary stocks traded in the red, capping gains. Among early gainers were Contact Energy (0.8%), Auckland International Airport (0.7%), Fisher & Paykel (0.7%), Port of Tauranga (0.7%), Skellerup Holdings (0.6%), and Ebos Group (0.4%).