The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index (PSEi) ended the last trading day of the week on the upside after investors picked stocks later in the session on news of stronger remittances.
The main index added 24.08 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 6,315.93. The industrial sector led the advance, while miners lagged behind. Volume rose to 1.55 billion shares worth ₱10.35 billion, as losers still beat gainers at 109 to 83, with 57 unchanged.
“Last-minute bargain hunting brought the local bourse to a positive close. For the most part of the day, the market was down as hopes of a rate cut by the United States (US) Federal Reserve were tempered by the US’ higher-than-expected July producer price inflation,” said Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco. He added that, “Investors also digested the Philippines’ second-quarter foreign investment pledges, which posted a 64-percent drop.”
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said, “The PSEi gained after the faster growth in OFW [overseas Filipino workers’] remittances to six-month highs in terms of volume.”
He noted that markets are also keeping an eye on US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to stop the war with Ukraine.