Mild bargain hunting lifts PSEi amid hopes of US easing Middle East tensions
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) recovered slightly together with global markets on Tuesday, March 24, on hopes that the United States (US) is easing attacks against Iran.
The main index added 37.02 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 5,936.20, led by the mining sector following an increase in gold prices. The services counter continued to decline.
Volume dropped to 634 million shares worth ₱5.7 billion. Gainers beat losers—129 to 63, with 59 unchanged.
“The Philippine market rebounded after the previous session’s sharp sell-off, supported by improved sentiment following [US President] Donald Trump’s remarks about delaying the potential attack on Iran’s power plants,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan.
He noted that, “This temporary easing of geopolitical tensions helped lift equities, mirroring gains seen in global markets after the announcement. However, investors remain cautious as oil prices stay elevated amid ongoing supply risks and uncertainty in the Middle East.”
Philstocks Financial Inc. research manager Japhet Tantiangco said, “The local market rose as investors hunted for bargains following two straight days of decline.”
He added that trading volume reflected that many investors stayed on the sidelines amid lingering uncertainties over the war in the Middle East.
Investors are assessing the latest developments wherein Trump said that the US and Iran had productive talks and that the US would postpone its strike on Iran’s energy infrastructures. But Iran denied such talks happened.