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New Zealand Shares Rise Slightly; Spark New Zealand Appoints COO

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New Zealand shares ended slightly higher on Thursday as most Asian markets saw gains amid an escalating Middle East conflict.

The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 0.23% or 32.13 points to close at 13,795.31.

The Houthis, Yemen's Iran-backed group, struck two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday under a naval blockade of the kingdom, raising the prospect of simultaneous disruptions to oil flows through both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Reuters report.

In corporate news, Spark New Zealand (ASX:SPK, NZE:SPK) appointed Tommy Bjorkberg as chief operating officer, effective Oct. 1.

Genesis Energy (NZE:GNE, ASX:GNE) reported total retail electricity sales of 1,543 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30, down from 1,696 GWh in the same quarter a year earlier.

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