PSEi drops below 6,100 amid political noise, US tariff concerns
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped to the 6,000 level after breaching its support on Wednesday, Sept. 3, as political noise and US tariff issues continue to dampen investor sentiment.
The main index closed at 6,082.93, down 45.96 points or 0.75 percent. The Property sector led the retreat, though the Miners and Conglomerates managed to advance. Trading volume remained thin at 705 million shares valued at P5.37 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers 109 to 91, with 56 issues unchanged.
“The market continues to decline under sustained selling pressure as uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment and other news weigh on investor sentiment,” said Luis Limlingan, managing director of Regina Capital Development Corp.
He added that “the new trade uncertainties from legal rulings in the US could further drag on market performance.”
According to Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco, “The local market extended its decline as lingering headwinds continued to weigh on sentiment.” He cited several factors, including "corruption issues in the Philippines' flood control projects, the weak position of the peso against the US dollar, and uncertainties over US tariff policies. Rising long-term treasury yields in the US also weighed on the bourse.”
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael Ricafort noted that the PSEi declined for the fifth consecutive trading day, primarily due to “recent political noises on corruption allegations, especially on various flood control projects.”
The year-on-year decline in the latest BOI-approved investments data also contributed to the market's downturn.