Power companies, Trade Me lift NZ stocks

INVESTOR interest in power companies, auction website Trade Me and Auckland Airport have helped lift the NZX benchmark index nearly 1 per cent.

NEW Zealand shares have risen as Contact Energy's $100 million capital return through a share buyback stoked investor demand for the electricity generator and retailer.

THE S&P/NZX 50 Index advanced 48.57 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 5775.7 on Thursday. Within the index 31 stocks rose, 13 fell and six were unchanged. Turnover was $162.6 million.