Much of FPH’s respiratory product range is aimed at offering relief for OSA sufferers.
“A tablet for sleep apnoea would be the holy grail, which would obviously totally disrupt that particular industry,” he said.
“But it’s very early days to get concerned about that.”
On the flipside, Fletcher Building (FBU) firmed 11c to $3.64 after the company said it continued to make progress on simplifying its funding structure, adding it had prepaid all outstanding US Private Placement notes on November 10.
Goodson said the message from FBU was “not hugely material”.
“But it does continue a broader theme this week of the market really starting to price in a better year for the New Zealand economy next year, and the stocks that have exposure to that.”
Goodson said second-tier data suggested 2026 would be better for the economy.
“So even though Fletcher Building has lots of its own particular issues, it could have a more helpful economic backdrop to deal with them,” he said.
Retirement villages were in the spotlight with government plans to reform the sector.
Among the changes will be a process for former residents to apply for early access to funds in situations of specific need.
One of the main operators, Summerset, fell 10c to $12.15.
Retirement village stocks have been strong in recent weeks on hopes that a better housing market next year will make it easier for them to sell their vacant units.
Goodson said the rule changes were more relevant to the smaller operators, not the listed operators with bigger balance sheets.
“It’s sort of neutral to a minor negative,” he said.
Software firm Gentrack looked to have become the plaything of the small-cap, growth-momentum investors, dropping 59c or 5.9% to $9.40 after a volatile week.
On the international scene, stocks have yet to respond to the prospect of higher interest rates in Japan, whose central bank has been making noises to that effect.
Yields on Japan’s benchmark government bonds rose to their highest level since 2007 as investors fretted over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s spending plans.
Goodson said rising Japanese yields could have implications for world markets.
“Japan has had inflation running above their target range for a considerable period, and it’s a concern that pops up from time to time in terms of what does this mean for the carry trade by foreigners,” Goodson said.
“Carry traders raise cheap funds in Japanese yen and invest in securities overseas, and Japanese themselves invest, unhedged, in overseas markets to try to get the higher yields that are available,“ Goodson said.
“It’s been one of the concerns – an argument for the bears – but it’s not something that’s really seems to have crystallised yet.”
Jamie Gray is an Auckland-based journalist, covering the financial markets, the primary sector and energy. He joined the Herald in 2011.
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