Here are the key changes to know about in the New Zealand equity market; NZX 50 lifts +0.4% as F&P Healthcare, Scales, Precinct Properties and Meridian rise; Gentrack, Briscoes, Sanford and Vulcan Steel fall

Here are the key things you need to know about in the NZX markets over the past 24 hours. Changes are as at 3:00 pm and may change when the market closes at 4:45 pm.

WHAT THE NZX 50 INDEX IS DOING
The NZX50 has risen +0.4% to kick off the new week, recovering more ground after being up +0.3% over the past five trading days. The benchmark is +0.7% higher over the past month and has strengthened +8.8% over six months, while its one-year gain stands at +5.6%. The market is evenly split, with 41 gainers and 41 decliners.

THE MAIN GAINERS
F&P Healthcare (FPH, #1) leads the gainers, rising +2% and extending its gains to +5% over the past month, +27% over six months and +25% over the past year. Scales Corp (SCL, #31) also gains +2%, taking its six-month increase to +15% and one-year gain to +29%, despite remaining -2% lower over the past month. Precinct Properties (PCT, #20) rises +2%, although it remains under pressure over longer periods, down -4% over five days, -6% over one month, -7% over six months and -28% year-on-year. Meridian Energy (MEL, #3) adds +1%, leaving the stock +6% higher over the past month and +1% over six months, while remaining -2% lower than a year ago. 

THE MAIN DECLINERS
Gentrack (GTK, #47) is the weakest performer, falling -3% and extending its recent losses to -12% over five trading days and -19% over the past month. The stock is now down -44% over six months and -62% over the past year. Briscoe Group (BGP, #32) declines -2%, taking its five-day fall to -8%, while it is down -3% over one month, -5% over six months and -14% year-on-year. Sanford (SAN, #42) falls -1% despite remaining +5% higher over five days and +21% over the past year, while Vulcan Steel (VSL, #30) also declines -1%. VSL remains +4% higher over the past month and +9% over six months, although it is down -15% year-on-year. 

SMARTSHARES EFTs

KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chorus (CNU, #13) has appointed Paul Reid to its Board as an independent director, effective 1 October. Reid brings more than 30 years of executive and board-level experience across listed companies, private equity, venture-backed businesses and State-Owned Enterprises, with Chorus highlighting his strategic, governance, commercial growth, technology and innovation expertise. 

Synlait Milk (SML) reported a challenging FY26 result, with operational recovery in the second half improving financial performance after manufacturing issues weighed on the first half. Reported EBITDA was $8.1 mln, including underlying EBITDA of $46.3 mln, while the reported net loss after tax was $75.4 mln and underlying net loss was $21.6 mln, on revenue of $1.94 bln and net debt of $215.0 mln. Operational performance improved materially, with Manufactured in Spec increasing from 91% in the first half to 95% in the second, while plan attainment rose from 90% to 103%. This drove reported EBITDA from a $34.7 mln loss in the first half to a $42.8 mln profit in the second, while NPAT improved from an $80.6 mln first-half loss to a $5.2 mln second-half profit. Synlait confirmed a final 2025/26 base milk price of $9.69/kgMS, with average incentives of $0.38/kgMS taking the total average farmer payment to $10.07/kgMS, and forecasts a 2026/27 base milk price of $9.50/kgMS. The company is now focused on maintaining operational stability, optimising its product and customer mix and developing its Advanced Nutritionals, Ingredients, Foodservice and Consumer channels, with its next full financial year running from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2027.