New Zealand stocks were little changed in early trade on Wednesday, hovering around 12,710 after a muted finish in the previous session. Gains in industrial services and logistics nearly offset losses in energy minerals and consumer sectors. Investors assessed data from China, New Zealand’s main trading partner, which showed slightly better-than-expected Q2 growth, though it marked the slowest pace in three quarters due to pressure from rising U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile, U.S. futures fell sharply after the Dow and Nasdaq slipped Tuesday, as hotter-than-expected June inflation reignited concerns over higher import levies. Traders cautiously awaited New Zealand’s June food inflation data due Thursday, after May’s 4.4% reading represented the highest level in 18 months. Early notable gainers included Infratil (3.9%), Seeka (2.3%), T&G Global (1.5%), and Scott Tech. (1.0%), while Tourism Holdings (-4.6%), Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (-4.4%), and Channel Infrastructure (-1.8%) led losses.