New Zealand shares were little changed in thin trade on Monday as holidays in the commercial hub Auckland and neighbouring Australia kept most investors away. In a lacklustre session, New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 index ended 3.97 points higher at 9,114.52. The benchmark closed flat on Friday. "It is a local anniversary day in the country's biggest city Auckland and the big players are on holiday. Also, we have got the Australia Day observed today and the Australians are very large players in our market. The volumes are very light," said Jeremy Sullivan, investment advisor at Christchurch-based advisor firm Hamilton Hindin Greene.

Consumer non-cyclical stocks led the gains, with dairy firm a2 Milk Company Ltd rising 0.8 percent, while EBOS Group Ltd climbed 1.2 percent to its highest since Dec. 4, 2018. Industrial stocks also advanced, with Auckland International Airport Ltd strengthening 1.1 percent to its highest since Sept 8, 2016.

Copyright Reuters, 2019