Polls help NZ sharemarket rise

NZ power companies' shares have risen after a Herald Digi-Poll showed the National Party returning to govern alone after the election.

New Zealand shares have advanced, with power companies climbing on the back of polls showing the National-led government returning in September's general election.

The NZX 50 Index rose 14.7 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 5193.5 on Tuesday.

Within the index 23 stocks rose, 19 fell and eight were unchanged. Turnover for the day was $132 million.

Heartland, which gained a banking licence in 2012, gained 2.2 per cent to 92 cents, having sold 51 per cent of its non-core assets, from $87.1 million to $43 million over the past five months. It had previously forecast reducing non-core property to $57.9 million by June 30.

"Heartland Bank came out with an interesting announcement today suggesting they're ahead of earlier projections for selling of their non-core assets," said Matthew Goodson, of Salt Funds Management.

Power companies rose after a Herald Digi-Poll showed the National Party returning to govern alone after the election. The main opposition parties, Greens and Labour, plan to re-regulate the energy market in a bid to push down retail prices.

Meridian Energy gained 1.7 per cent to $1.205, Contact Energy advanced 0.4 per cent to $5.40 and Mighty River Power rose 0.2 per cent to $2.255.

"To some degree these tend to trade off political polls given the widely varying policies of the parties," Mr Goodson said.

Diligent Board Member Services led the NZX 50 higher, jumping five per cent to a near month-high of $4.41.

The governance app maker is due to report its first quarter sales on Friday.

Fletcher Building, New Zealand's largest listed company, rose 0.3 per cent to $8.96 and Telecom climbed 1.1 per cent to $2.75.

Warehouse Group, the nation's largest listed retailer, was the worst performer on the day down three per cent to $3.24.


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