The NZX 50 rose 52 points, or 0.4%, to close at 13,723 on Friday, reversing early weakness and marking its highest finish in six weeks, driven by strength in tech services, logistics, and retail trade. The benchmark gained for a second straight session as traders shrugged off a sharp drop in U.S. futures after Wall Street’s S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell Thursday despite Nvidia’s strong earnings results. Local stocks also logged a second consecutive weekly advance and a solid monthly gain of 2.2%, supported by an indication that the Reserve Bank will maintain a dovish stance amid a manageable inflation outlook and improving economic output after years of stagnation. In top trading partner China, PMI readings for February are due next week, with local media noting a steady rise in consumption during the Spring Festival holiday. Top performers included T&G Global (4.3%), Hallenstein Glasson (3.4%), Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (3.0%), and Seeka Ltd. (2.4%).