This article was automatically generated by Dow Jones using technology from Automated Insights.

Stocks in New Zealand rose during early trading Thursday, as the S&P/NZX 50 Index increased 0.2% to 13770.40.

Among local companies with a market cap of at least 1.5 billion New Zealand dollars ($878.4 million), Meridian Energy is the biggest leader this morning, rising 0.9%, and Genesis Energy climbed 0.8%. Fonterra Co-Operative Grp rounds out the top three movers, as shares climbed 0.7%.

Vector is the biggest early laggard, dropping 1.6%, followed by shares of Fletcher Building, which slipped 0.8%. Shares of Spark New Zealand slipped 0.5%.

On the currency front, the WSJ Dollar Index was flat at 96.25. The New Zealand dollar weakened 0.1% against the U.S. dollar to 58.57 U.S. cents.

In the bond markets, the 10-year New Zealand government bond yield rose 1.36 basis points to 4.711%.

Data source: Dow Jones Market Data, FactSet