MT Newswires -ShutterstockNew Zealand shares were flat with a negative bias on Friday after oil prices spiked as the conflict in the Middle East intensified, raising concerns over inflation. Brent crude oil futures were trading over $100 per barrel, after jumping 7% overnight to a two-month high of $102 per barrel. In corporate news, Chorus (ASX:CNU, NZE:CNU) said fiber connections grew by 5,000 in the fiscal fourth quarter to 1.1 million, compared with a gain of 13,000 in the fiscal third quarter. The company said total fixed line connections fell by 4,000 in the June quarter to 1.2 million, compared with an increase of 3,000 in the previous quarter, as losses in copper connections outpaced gains in fiber connections. Gentrack Group (ASX:GTK, NZE:GTK) received notice that UBS Group and its affiliated entities decreased their holdings in the company to 5.584% from 6.668.