Wellington, June 9 NZPA - Abano Healthcare Group will be added to the NZX 50 Index, while the position of Allied Farmers is still being considered, NZX said following its June quarterly index review.

In February, Allied Farmers criticised NZX for changing its position on its inclusion in the index and also publishing the information in a subscriber-only release.

NZX today published the latest changes to its index in a release available to the public on its website.

Abano replaces Pan Pacific Petroleum, whose six-month index ranking fell below 55th. The index changes announced today are effective from June 21.

Allied Farmers shares closed at 4.6c today. They are down from 40c a year ago.

Based on concerns about Allied Farmers' current ability to maintain a position in the NZX 50, NZX was exercising its discretion to discount Allied Farmers from index inclusion at this time.

Allied Farmers would be considered for tranched entry into the NZX 50 Index at the March 2011 quarterly review.

Nuplex Industries Ltd is added to the NZX 15 Index on the basis of a six-month ranking of higher than 14th. Freightways Ltd is removed from that index.

Ecoya Ltd, which listed in May, has been added to the NZX Small Cap Index.