New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.6% to close at 12,704 on Thursday, snapping a five-day winning streak, as losses in the health technology sector weighed on the market. The sector declined 2.1%, led by a 2.9% drop in heavyweight Fisher & Paykel. Other notable laggards included Infratil (-1.8%), Contact Energy (-1%), Mainfreight (-1%), and a2 Milk (-1.1%). Market participants also adopted a cautious stance ahead of a key US non-farm payrolls report due later in the day, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s outlook on monetary easing. On the trade front, President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a trade deal with Vietnam that would allow US goods to enter the country duty-free, while Vietnamese exports to the US would face a 20% tariff—lower than the 46% announced in April. This development lifted hopes that more agreements could be reached before the July 9 tariff pause deadline.