New Zealand shares closed 0.76 percent higher Tuesday, although a rising local currency curbed gains, dealers said. The NZX-50 index rose 20.99 points to close at 2,796.11 on turnover worth 180.1 million dollars (117.4 million US). ABN Amro Craigs broker Matt Willis said the New Zealand dollar's rise would hurt export stocks and make local shares generally less attractive to foreign investors. 'It's not great for our export stocks. That's certainly curtailed the performance of our market today,' Willis told Dow Jones Newswires. Willis said the National Bank's monthly business confidence survey, which showed a further lift in confidence in June from May, meant that economic indicators were improving. Gains were restrained by a fall in market leader Telecom after the government's business watchdog said it was considering regulating some mobile charges. Telecom closed down a cent at 2.73 dollars, having earlier hit a low of 2.65. Pumpkin Patch jumped 14 cents to 1.49 dollars after the children's clothing retailer confirmed it would close 20 unprofitable stores in the United States. 'Other comments made about quite robust trading in New Zealand and Australia, and debt at the lower end of their range, has seen their share price move up quite nicely,' said Hamilton Hindin Greene partner Grant Williamson. Fletcher Building rose 20 cents to 6.58 dollars, Contact Energy was up 10 cents at 5.85, and Auckland International Airport rose three cents to 1.61. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare rose a cent to 2.92 dollars and sister company Fisher & Paykel Appliances was also a cent higher, at 67 cents. 