PSEi welcomes new year with a bang as manufacturing data improves
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) made a strong start for the year 2026 on improving confidence over the local economy after the latest manufacturing data pointed to a return to expansion mode.
The main index leaped by 82.14, or 1.36 percent, to close at 6,135.06 on Friday, Jan. 2. The mining sector led the rally, although the services counter lagged behind.
Volume is still thin at 444 million shares worth ₱4.36 billion. Gainers swamped losers—146 to 65, with 64 unchanged.
“The PSEi moved higher in the first trading session of the year. Buying pressure was seen across the board throughout the day,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan.
He added that “the release of positive purchasing managers’ index (PMI) figures for December helped renew investor confidence, supporting optimism for economic growth.”
Philstocks Financial Inc. research manager Japhet Tantiangco said, “The local market rose as investors hunted for bargains with hopes that the local economy would perform better this year.”
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort also said the PSEi gained for the first trading day of 2026 after the latest improvement in local manufacturing PMI data to new four-month highs and back to expansion mode, or above 50, at 50.2 in December 2025 from 47.4 a month ago in November 2025.
For the holiday-shortened first week of 2026, the PSEi gained by 69.42 points, or 1.1 percent higher, up for the second straight week.