NZ's F&P Healthcare falls 5.9 pct on profit warning

WELLINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) - Shares in New Zealand medical equipment company Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd (FPH.NZ: Quote, Profile, Research) fell 5.9 percent on opening on Wednesday after the company lowered its full year operating profit forecast by 16 percent.

Shares in the top-10 company fell 5.9 percent, or 18 cents, to NZ$2.87 on market opening, having traded between NZ$2.50 and NZ$3.86 over the past year.

The company, which makes over 60 percent its sales in U.S. dollars, said it expected operating profit for the year to March 31 to be around NZ$57 million ($45.6 million), from a previous forecast of about NZ$68 million.

It said higher sales were being offset by a strong New Zealand dollar. (NZ$1=$1.25)