MT Newswires -ShutterstockNew Zealand shares ended higher on Friday, despite a global sell-off amid geopolitical tensions and the US President Donald Trump's decision to replace US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 0.56% or 74.57 points to close at 13,423.18. Trump said on Thursday that he plans to announce his choice to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, amid growing speculation the role will go to former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, according to a separate Thursday Reuters report. In corporate news, Vulcan Steel (ASX:VSL, NZE:VSL) completed the second and final payment under its August 2025 sale and purchase agreement with Francis and Gellatly Holdings, finalizing the acquisition of Roofing Industries. Chorus (ASX:CNU, NZE:CNU) said that in its fiber areas, total fiber broadband connections rose by about 7,000 lines to 1.1 million connections during the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025.