PSE Index Edges Up Slightly

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index posted a modest gain of 7.93 points or 0.13 percent, closing at 6,147.44.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, March 28, 2025

The market remained cautious due to continued uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies, although mining stocks benefited from a surge in gold prices, which hit a new record of $3,077 per ounce.

This spike was driven by investors seeking safe-haven assets in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff on auto imports.

Three sub-indices advanced, while the other three declined, reflecting the ongoing uncertainty in the global economic landscape. Despite foreign investors being net buyers, market turnover remained weak due to a lack of catalysts, leading to a 43 percent drop in average trading volume to P3.4 billion.

However, net foreign buying reached P70.3 million, with foreign purchases totaling P1.743 billion against foreign sales of P1.672 billion.

The Financials sector fell by 0.27 percent, Industrials declined by 0.24 percent, and Holding Firms dipped by 0.02 percent.

Meanwhile, Services rose by 0.74 percent, Mining and Oil inched up by 0.01 percent, and Property gained 0.95 percent. Market bellwether SM Investments remained unchanged at P781, while second-liners led the top gainers.

Manila Mining A and B surged by about 19 percent, along with Lepanto A, benefiting from record-high U.S. gold prices. Overall, there were 110 gainers, 75 losers, and 46 unchanged stocks.

The top gainers were Ayala Land, ICTSI, Jollibee Foods, Globe Telecom, East West, Union Bank, National Reinsurance, Alternergy, Citicore RE, Manila Water, Synergy Grid, SPNEC, AgriNurture, Axelum, Emperador, Ginebra, Aboitiz Equity, DMC Holdings, GT Capital, AREIT RT, Megaworld, MRC Allied, RL Commercial RT, Vistareit, PLDT, Belle Corp., Bloomberry, PhilWeb, Puregold, and Robinsons Retail.

On the losing side were Metrobank, Meralco, China Bank, Aboitiz Power, PNB, Vantage Equities, Basic Energy, First Gen, Petron, Ayala Corp., Semirara Mining, Shell Pilipinas, Monde Nissin, Century Pacific Food, Alliance Global, JG Summit, LT Group, Century Properties, Converge, DITO CME, Atlas Mining, Digiplus, Ferronickel, and OceanaGold.

BDO Unibank, Citicore RT, Boulevard Holdings, SSI Group, Cebu Landmasters, Security Bank, Philex Mining, ACEN Corp., SM Prime, Vista Land, DoubleDragon, and ABAcore remained unchanged.