The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) extended its losing streak, dropping 65.50 points or 1.04 percent to close at 6,252.73 on Thursday, July 31.
Mining shares led the broad retreat. Volume increased to 902 million shares valued at P7.85 billion, with losers outnumbering gainers 134 to 61, and 56 unchanged.
“The PSEi went down as investors grew cautious about the potential impact of tomorrow's tariff deadline on stock market movements,” said Luis Limlingan, Managing Director at Regina Capital Development Corp. “Moreover, days of continuous depreciation of the Philippine Peso against the US Dollar took a toll on overall market sentiment.”
Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco added, “The local market dropped further as investors continued to grapple with global trade uncertainties as the US' August 1 negotiations deadline looms.”
Tantiangco also noted that “investors digested the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting wherein rates were kept unchanged and no definite outlook was given. The Peso’s further depreciation also weighed on the local market.”
According to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael Ricafort, “The Philippine Stock Exchange Composite Index (PSEi) declined for the sixth straight trading day after the US dollar/peso exchange rate again went up to new highs in nearly seven months, or since February 4, 2025. This followed more cautious signals from the Fed about a possible 0.25% Fed rate cut in September 2025, which recently reduced the odds of future Fed rate cuts.”