The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dipped slightly on Friday, Oct. 17, as the market traded sideways while investors wait for companies to start reporting their third-quarter performance.
The main index shed 4.14 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 6,089.53. The drop in the property and mining counters weighed down the benchmark index.
Volume declined to 1.33 billion shares worth ₱4.42 billion, as losers outnumbered gainers—109 to 83, with 56 unchanged.
“The Philippine market remained relatively flat for the second consecutive day despite the peso stabilizing against the United States (US) dollar,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan.
He added that, “Moreover, mixed sentiments ahead of the upcoming earnings season likely kept the index moving sideways as investors await more earnings reports in the coming weeks.”
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said the PSEi was marginally lower for the second straight trading day after the dollar rate corrected slightly higher at ₱58.17 amid increased US-China trade tensions recently, continued US government shutdown, and the latest concerns on two US regional banks.