Stocks slump as Strait of Hormuz closure drives oil concerns
Local equities slipped as rising crude prices and intensifying geopolitical friction in the Middle East drove investors to the sidelines.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 9.7 points, or 0.15 percent, to close at 6,256.02 on Tuesday, July 14, due to cautious sentiment across regional markets as the continued exchange of fire between the United States (US) and Iran led to the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trading volume was thin, with market participants hesitant to build significant exposures ahead of further geopolitical developments. Total volume dropped to 674 million shares valued at ₱5.28 billion.
Market breadth was negative, with declining issues outnumbering advancers 109 to 82, while 49 stocks remained unchanged.
Sectoral performance was evenly split. Mining and oil companies led the advancing sectors, finding support in the broader energy rally, while conglomerates bore the brunt of the session's selloff, posting the deepest losses of the day.
Market analysts pointed to escalating supply risks in the Middle East as the primary catalyst for the risk-off tone. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz immediately triggered spike in international oil prices, raising concerns over domestic inflation in the fuel-importing Philippines.
The local bourse ended slightly lower as investors remained cautious amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict and renewed gains in oil prices, which weighed on market sentiment, according to Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp.
Traders largely stayed on the sidelines to wait for further geopolitical developments before taking significant positions, he said.
The market’s sideways movement ended in negative territory as worries over the US-Iran tensions and their upward effect on global oil prices weighed on investor sentiment, said Japhet Tantiangco, research manager at Philstocks Financial.
He noted that while overall trading remained tepid, international investors bucked the negative domestic trend, with foreign transactions registering a net inflow of ₱229.80 million for the session.