• The share price index futures fell 0.02%, a 65.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 1.2% on Thursday.

• Tech stocks continued their winning streak, closing at a record level. Afterpay was the biggest gainer in the index, marking a record closing level for the fourth session in a row.

• COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the health ministry has purchased nine large minus 80 degree Celsius freezers that can store more than 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

• The local share price index futures rose 0.4%, a 26.8-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close.

• Up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were physically and sexually abused in New Zealand’s faith-based and state care institutions from the 1960s to early 2000s.
• The report estimated that up to 256,000 people were abused, accounting for almost 40% of the 655,000 people in care during the period, with most abuse occurring in the 1970s and 1980s.

• Cantarutti said that after an initial trial period through late January, Delta hoped to leverage data and experience from the flights to help expand those routes to leisure travelers and reach agreements on other destinations.

• The local share price index futures rose 0.7%, a 50.7-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark fell 0.4% on Tuesday.

• The coach added that captain Kane Williamson was still expected to join the team for the second and third Twenty20 matches against Pakistan after he withdrew from the second West Indies test to be with his pregnant wife.

• New Zealand head to Auckland on Tuesday to begin preparations for three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan before a two-test series begins in Mt. Maunganui on Dec. 26.

• The top five West Indies batsmen totalled only 267 across their four Test innings, just 16 more than New Zealand maestro Williamson scored on his own in the first Test.

• "It's not a hypothetical -- there have been several (Australian outbreaks)," she said.

• Energy stocks, down 0.9%, tracked a downturn in oil prices as new coronavirus-related restrictions in New York stoked demand concerns.

• Neil Wagner accounted for Brooks (36) and Kyle Jamieson removed Roston Chase for this second duck of the match and bowled Campbell for 68 and the West Indies went to tea at 158 for five.

• Right-handed batsman broke his thumb during a throw-down session.
• Babar suffered the injury a day after Imam-ul-Haq had fractured his left thumb also during a throw-down session.

• The only likely tossup decision to be made is whether all-rounder Daryl Mitchell or left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner takes the final spot.

• Avey Woods, the mother of New Zealand tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman who was killed on the island, said she still waits for text messages from her son.

• The West Indies, meanwhile, called uncapped 22-year-old Joshua da Silva into their squad to cover for Dowrich while Chemar Holder is in line to replace Roach in the bowling line up.

• “The commission made no findings that these issues would have stopped the attack. But these were both failings and for that I apologise,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said after the report was released.

• Ardern met with the family members of victims and some survivors on Sunday and promised immediate action on the royal commission report, but said some recommendations may take time to implement.
  • The findings of a royal commission inquiry into the mosque attack will be made public in parliament on Tuesday.

• The coach added he had little to complain about from the demolition of West Indies at Seddon Park, which had also given them some options going forward.

• The team had their exemption to train revoked last week after eight members of the 53-strong squad tested positive during their stay in isolation.

The players were confined to their rooms when the first cases emerged last week but had hoped to resume training before finishing their stint in isolation on Tuesday.

The health department said the team would not be allowed to train together until doctors were confident it would not lead to more coronavirus cases.

Six members of Pakistan's touring squad to New Zealand has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

• Constable Zeena Ali, who joined the force in the wake of the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks, will be the first officer in the history to wear the police-issued hijab

• Ardern earlier this month delivered the biggest election victory for her centre-left Labour Party in half a century

Tigers are among four international teams confirmed to play in New Zealand over the coming months.

The series is scheduled to be played in December and January.

• It is the first time a court in New Zealand sentenced a person to prison for the rest of their life.