Here are the key changes to know about in the New Zealand equity market; NZX 50 falls -0.2% as Stride, a2 Milk, Spark and Freightways gain while Gentrack, Oceania, Ryman and SkyCity casino decline

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 falls -0.2% for today which takes its five-day decline to -1.1% leaving the index -0.9% lower over the past month. The index remains +3.1% higher over six months and +0.7% over the past year. There were only 37 gainers today in comparison to 47 decliners.

THE MAIN GAINERS
Stride Property Group (SPG, #43) is one of the strongest gainers, rising +1% and extending its five-day gain to +2%, although the stock remains -1% lower over one month, -6% over six months and -29% year-on-year. a2 Milk (ATM, #8) also gains +1%, although it remains under pressure over longer periods, down -2% over one month, -28% over six months and -19% year-on-year. Spark (SPK, #13) rises +1%, taking its five-day performance to +2%, while it remains -7% lower over one month, -8% over six months and -17% year-on-year. Freightways (FRW, #17) rounds out the leading gainers with a +1% rise, although the stock remains -1% lower over five days, -8% over one month and six months, and -13% year-on-year. 

THE MAIN DECLINERS
Gentrack (GTK, #47) is the weakest performer, falling -3% despite extending its five-day gain to +10%; the stock remains -7% lower over one month, -40% over six months and -57% year-on-year. Oceania Healthcare (OCA, #44) also declines -3%, extending its five-day fall to -4% and one-month decline to -11%, while it is down -4% over six months and -8% year-on-year. Ryman Healthcare (RYM, #18) falls -3%, taking its five-day decline to -6% and one-month decline to -16%, with the stock down -22% over six months and -40% year-on-year. SkyCity Entertainment (SKC, #36) rounds out the leading decliners with a -2% fall, extending its five-day decline to -2% and leaving it -5% lower over one month, -6% over six months and -11% year-on-year. 

SMARTSHARES EFTs

KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tāiko Critical Minerals (TCM) has lodged its reply to comments received by the Expert Panel considering its Fast-track application for the Southern Block of the Barrytown Critical Minerals Project. The response, submitted on October the 5th alongside further information requested by the Panel, provides detailed responses supported by the company’s technical experts, with Tāiko noting it has met all process deadlines to date. The application builds on existing resource consents for the Coates South Block and Mineral Separation Plant at Rapahoe, and would extend the project into the adjoining Southern Block if approved.

F&P Healthcare (FPH, #1) will release its financial results for the six months ended 30 September on the 26th of November.

Briscoe Group (BGP, #32) delivered a solid first-half performance despite challenging retail conditions, with record sales rising +0.8% to $374.2 mln, supported by particularly strong Sporting Goods sales of $145.1 mln, while Homeware sales were broadly flat. Online sales increased +2.1% to $73.4 mln, although gross margin eased to 40.85% from 41.43%, contributing to a -5.9% decline in net profit to $27.6 mln. The group remains financially strong, with $74.4 mln in cash and no interest-bearing debt, while its new Drury distribution centre is operational and automation is on track to go live in October. Briscoe also launched its next-generation Club Rebel loyalty programme and continues its SAP S/4HANA upgrade, with management focused on converting recent strategic investment into improved productivity, margins and customer outcomes. The Board declared a fully imputed interim dividend of 10 cents per share and remains cautiously positive on the outlook despite ongoing pressure on household discretionary spending.