The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) edged higher on the last trading day of the week despite weak economic growth data as investors picked up bargains in anticipation of more corporate earnings reports next week.
The main index added 12.4 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 6,290.35 on Friday, Aug. 7. The mining and property sectors led the advance, while banks and industrials lagged.
Volume was relatively steady at 606 million shares worth ₱6.22 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers—90 to 86, while 68 issues were unchanged.
“The local index ended higher as investors shrugged off the weaker-than-expected second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) print, with bargain hunting and selective buying supporting gains across key index names,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan. The second-quarter GDP growth of 2.3 percent was the country’s slowest post-pandemic expansion.
Market sentiment remained resilient as participants looked beyond the weaker growth figure and focused on expectations for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) next move.
Limlingan added, “Trading stayed positive as investors repositioned ahead of more corporate earnings releases and further macroeconomic developments.”
Philstocks Financial Inc. research manager Japhet Tantiangco said, “The local market’s rise is attributed mainly to bargain hunting. Appreciation of the corporate results of selected stocks, including those of Universal Robina Corp. (URC), Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF), and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV), also helped in today’s performance.”
However, Tantiangco noted that other indicators show market sentiment remains cautious.