NZ share market opens higher

The New Zealand share market gained nearly half a per cent in the first throes of trading on Tuesday.
The benchmark NZSX-50 index was up 11.742 points, or 0.434 per cent, to 2717.488 after closing on Monday night at 2705.746.
Volumes were light for those making the best percentage gains. Goodman Fielder rose 5c to 195, Fletcher Building gained 11c, or nearly 2 per cent, to 565.
Nuplex rose 5c to 290 and Michael Hill was up 1c to 53.
Telecom and Goodman Property were the heaviest trading, rising 4c to 255 and 1c to 96 respectively.
Those losing ground were the ANZ Banking Group, down 41c, or 2.58 per cent, to $15.50 and Infratil down 2c to 163.
AMP Office lost 1c to 97 and The Warehouse lost 4c to 370.
In the United States stocks rose in choppy trade on Monday, lifted by optimism over a $US68 billion takeover in the drug industry and after a surprise rebound in housing data suggested the worst may be over.
"We haven't seen any big deals in a while (so) it's an indication that there are potentials for some deals to get done," said Kurt Brunner, portfolio manager at Swarthmore Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.