New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index slipped 0.2% to close at 13,656 on Tuesday, sliding for the third consecutive session as concerns over US Federal Reserve independence weighed on investor sentiment. Domestically, investors weighed prospects of further Reserve Bank of New Zealand interest rate hikes ahead of Q4 inflation data due next week. Among index heavy weights, EBOS Group (-3%), Auckland International Airport (-1.9%), Mercury NZ (-2%), and Spark New Zealand (-1.3%) closed lower. Other notable decliners included Third Age Health Services (-4.4%) Vista Group International (-2.1%), Hallenstein Glasson Holdings (-3.8%), Vector (-3.4%), and Gentrack Group (-3.1%).