The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) dropped after a two-day reprieve as investors weighed concerns over inflation and gross domestic product figures due for release next week.
The benchmark gauge fell 34.09 points, or 0.57 percent, to close at 5,929.68 on Thursday, Oct. 30. Banks led the retreat, while mining stocks managed to buck the trend, rebounding from earlier losses. Volume was weak at 655 million shares worth ₱4.97 billion, with losers outnumbering gainers 95 to 82, and 64 unchanged.
“The Philippine market slipped lower as selling pressure persisted throughout the session,” said Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp. “Traders remained cautious as they are waiting the release of GDP [gross domestic product] and inflation data next week.”
He added that corporate earnings are “also being closely monitored by investors, as these could determine the market’s next direction.”
Japhet Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial, said “the local market gave in to selling pressures brought by lingering concerns over the local economy’s outlook amid the corruption issues.”
He also noted that “tempered hopes of another Fed rate cut by December” were affecting the market, and investors “took a cautious stance ahead of the long weekend.”