NZ shares rise

New Zealand stocks have lifted with investors lured back to the bourse's relatively high yields. The NZX 50 Index rose 19.546 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 5274.583 on Wednesday. Within the index, 29 stocks rose, 14 fell and seven were unchanged. Turnover was $107.7 million. Over the past quarter the benchmark index has gained some 2.2 per cent, as the re-election of the National government gave investors confidence the regulatory environment would remain the same. The market was further supported by demand for high-dividend yielding stocks in a global environment where interest rates remain low. Spark, which offers a dividend yield of 6.1 per cent, advanced 2.0 per cent to $3.03, recovering after shedding rights to its final dividend last week. Infratil climbed 2.1 per cent to $2.89 as it sealed the sale of its Australian energy assets and signalled a capital return. Fletcher Building, the nation's largest listed company, fell 0.5 per cent to $8.74, according to skynews.com