New Zealand’s NZX 50 fell 14 points, or 0.1%, to 13,811 on Friday after remaining flat in the previous session. Financials, real estate, utilities and communication services weighed on the index as a global bond sell-off pushed US Treasury yields higher and strengthened expectations of a Federal Reserve interest-rate hike. Persistent high oil prices amid ongoing Gulf shipping disruptions also kept investors cautious. RBNZ Governor Anna Breman recently warned that inflation could be higher if elevated oil prices persist. Traders were also awaiting China’s PMI data, New Zealand’s top trading partner, as well as the US PCE Index and jobs data due next week. The releases could provide clues about the Federal Reserve’s monetary-policy decision at its upcoming meeting. Delegat Group fell 4.1%, Infratil dropped 2.1%, Brisco Group declined 1.8%, Ventia Services lost 1.5%, Fletcher Building fell 0.8%, and F&C Investment slipped 0.7%. The index rose 0.5% for the week, marking its second consecutive weekly gain.