The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped on Tuesday, May 26, as investors took profits ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday on concern over the Middle East situation after the United States (US) launched strikes against Iran.
The main index lost 46.14 points, or 0.77 percent, to close at 5,963.24. Sectoral indices were evenly mixed.
Volume dipped to 734 million shares worth ₱5.05 billion. Losers beat gainers—117 to 77, with 53 unchanged.
Philstocks Financial Inc. research manager Japhet Tantiangco said, “The local market pulled back as hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran were tempered. This came after the US conducted ‘self defense’ strikes against Iran.”
He noted that trading remained tepid as many stayed on the sidelines amid stagflation risks and lingering uncertainties with respect to the US-Iran situation.
“The Philippine market closed lower even as crude prices eased, with investors maintaining a cautious stance. Sentiment was weighed down by local uncertainties, particularly fears that inflation could climb beyond eight percent, fueling speculation of an unusually large 50-basis-point (bp) rate hike by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP),” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan.
These concerns reduced the appeal of equities and prompted a shift toward a risk-off posture.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chief economist Michael L. Ricafort said the PSEi dropped as Nymex crude oil price rose slightly after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei signaled that nations and lands of the Middle East region will no longer be a shield for American bases following US strikes.