PSEi closes lower on profit-taking ahead of earnings season
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) dipped again, trading sideways as the market awaits corporate earnings reports and other strong catalysts to disperse the uncertainty hanging over investors.
The main index shed 5.46 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 6,084.07 on Monday, Oct. 20. Miners declined, while the Property and Industrial sectors were the only gainers.
Volume fell to 1.86 billion shares valued at ₱3.65 billion, with losers outnumbering gainers 122 to 75, as 50 stocks were unchanged.
“The market remained cautious ahead of the earnings season,” said Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp.. “However, early in the trading day, some buying pressure emerged as uncertainty from the U.S. eased after President Trump signaled a possible tariff cut.”
Philstocks Financial Research Manager Japhet Tantiangco noted that “The local bourse continued with its sideways movement, which ended in a last-minute profit-taking.”
“This comes as investors remain cautious while weighing bargain opportunities against downside risks to local economic prospects, including the corruption issues and offshore headwinds,” he added.
Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the PSEi “again corrected marginally lower for the third straight trading, after the latest data showed the local balance of payments (BOP) surplus narrowed versus a year ago and versus a month ago.”