The local stock market ended lower on the lack of good news even as local COVID cases continue to rise to record levels.
The main index dropped 37.51 points or 0.52 percent to close at 7,223.83 as Banks led the retreat although the Mining and Oil counter posted strong gains. Volume was still low at 1.13 billion shares worth P5.78 billion as losers beat gainers 104 to 78 with 61 unchanged.
“Philippine shares opened the week in the red, with a lack of catalysts with the US market closed for Martin Luther King day later and following the sentiment led by a selloff in tech stocks,” said Regina Capital Development Corporation Managing Director Luis Limlingan.
He noted that, “This selloff of the Nasdaq snapped its three-day winning streak after rising interest rate worries once again dented investors’ spirits.”
Philstocks Financial Senior Supervisor for Research Japhet Tantiangco said “The local market declined further as COVID-19 worries dampened investor sentiment. This is amid the continuous surge in local cases with last Saturday’s numbers reaching a record high of 39,004.”
He added that, “The mounting economic losses amid the extension of the alert level 3 restrictions in the National Capital Region and other key economic areas, and its implementation in more parts of the country were also seen to have weighed on the market.”