New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 fell 2.5% to close at 13,198 on Friday, retreating from a three-week high and hitting an over four-month low as negative cues from Wall Street dampened investor sentiment. US equities tumbled overnight, led by broad-based sell-off in technology and AI-related stocks. Market sentiment was further pressured by uncertainty over the Fed’s rate-cut outlook, with investors also awaiting the US inflation report due later in the day. Adding to risk-off sentiment, local data showed visitor arrivals growth eased to 7% year-on-year from 8.2% in November, while Q1 business inflation hit a two-year high of 2.37%, and the business PMI eased to 55.2 from December’s three-year high of 56.1, though it remained in solid expansionary territory. Most sectors closed in the red, led by heavyweight healthcare, industrials, and utilities, while notable decliners included Fisher & Paykel (-7.1%), Gentrack Group (-5.8%), and EBOS Group (-3.5%).