NZ shares rise as US budget hopes rise NEW Zealand shares have risen along with other global markets on optimism US politicians are moving closer to resolving a stalemate that has caused a partial government shutdown and the possibility of a debt default. The NZX 50 Index gained 23.390 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 4740.770 on Friday. Within the index, 37 stocks gained, seven fell and six were unchanged, on low turnover of $81 million. New Zealand's gains lagged a rally on Wall Street, possibly showing New Zealand investors were selling stocks to raise funds to buy shares in Meridian Energy next week. "It was a positive day, moving up half a per cent, in reaction to what has been happening offshore with negotiations in Washington getting closer to finding a resolution to the shutdown and raising the debt ceiling," said Grant Williamson, a director at Hamilton Hindin Greene. We hope that Washington will see some sort of resolution maybe over the weekend. Sky TV paced gains among leading stocks, up two per cent to $6.10, while Telecom rose 0.7 per cent to $2.30 and Fletcher Building rose 0.4 per cent to $9.46. Diligent Board Member Services, the software firm fined and censured by the stock exchange for a raft of breaches, slumped 14 per cent to $4.87 after it said sales growth slowed in the third quarter. After the 5pm market close, the NZX said petrol station chain Z Energy will be added to the benchmark index from October 21, having met the ranking and liquidity requirements for inclusion. Children's clothing retailer Pumpkin Patch, the lowest ranked stock on the index, will be removed. Investment funds which track the index will need to reweight their holdings to match the changes.