NZ shares ease on global growth concerns

The S&P/NZX 50 index fell 8.6 points, or 0.1 percent, to 9106.03. Within the index, 19 stocks rose, four were unchanged and 27 fell. Turnover was light at $79.1 million.

Overnight the  Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.2 percent, while the S&P 500 shed 1.4 percent. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 1.9 percent, as growth concerns resurfaced in the US after a long weekend. US markets were weaker after the IMF lowered its forecasts for economic growth earlier in the week. Losses accelerated after the Financial Times said the Trump administration turned down an offer to hold preparatory trade talks with China. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow denied the report.

"It is a little bit weaker today, but holding up okay. Obviously, we had some soft leads from the US overnight, more trade tension worries and government shutdown worries," said Grant Davies, an investment advisor at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch.

The highest volume was once again in Spark New Zealand, which saw 2.4 million shares exchange hands, below its average of 3.5 million over the past three months. The stock rose 1.5 percent to $4.02.