The New Zealand sharemarket registered a fall nearly 1 percent, following financial markets becoming jitterier and investors seeking for safe havens.

At around 10.30am, the benchmark NZX-50 index was witnessed to be lowered 9.08 points, or 0.29 percent, at 3149.59 with a large number of stocks going registering a downfall, compared to those improving.

Fletcher Building slipped 1c to 815, Contact Energy marked a squeeze 4c to 606, and TrustPower opened flat at 721.

While, Ryman Healthcare was witnessed to grow 3c to 217 after reporting a realized profit of $61 million for the year today, up 16 percent from last year.

Investors showed concerns over a move by Germany to impose ban on short-selling of certain financial instruments, while in New Zealand investors were jittery fearing sensitive global markets in a Reserve Bank of New Zealand financial stability report today.

"Markets are running scared, with fear becoming the dominant driver," said Ben Potter market strategist at IG Markets. "At the end of the day, nobody knows how this whole situation is going to play out. Markets hate uncertainty, which is what's driving the fear".