PSE Index Inches Up

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) posted a slight gain today, closing at 6,306.19 points—up by just 12.08 points—after profit-taking occurred 30 minutes before the close, bringing the index to its lowest level of the day.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, March 17, 2025

Gains in the holding firms sector, led by market bellwether SM Investments, which rose slightly to P813 (up by P5), and ICTSI, which nudged the services index higher, helped offset losses in the four other sub-indices.

Financials declined by 0.26 percent, industrials fell by 0.36 percent, mining and oil dropped by 0.65 percent, and property retreated by 0.60 percent.

Meanwhile, the services sector rose by 1.57 percent as ICTSI gained 3.15 percent to P393 (up by P12), with PLDT and Converge also posting gains.

Holding firms increased by 0.41 percent, with Ayala Corp. edging up by 50 centavos to P605.50, while Abacore, Cosco Capital, and DMC Holdings also closed higher. The index climbed to a high of 6,335.95 points earlier in the session but lost momentum before the close as investors took profits, leading to a modest increase overall.

SM Investments closed at its lowest point for the day, despite reaching an intraday high of P829.

The late-session sell-off reflects continued investor caution amid uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s tariff policies, which could negatively impact the Philippine economy, as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Value turnover amounted to P5.25 billion, with 94 gainers, 92 losers, and 59 unchanged stocks. Foreign investors remained net buyers, with net foreign inflows reaching P357 million, driven by foreign buying of P3.066 billion against foreign selling of P2.709 billion.

Stocks in the green were Metrobank, China Bank, Philodrill, Manila Mining A and B shares, Manila Water, Synergy Grid, Vitarich, Megawide, JG Summit, LT Group, Century Properties, Filinvest Land, and MRC Allied.

MREIT RT, RL Commercial REIT, Vista Land, Cebu Air, MacroAsia, PH Resorts, Semirara Mining, Aboitiz Power, Filinvest Development, SPNEC, Nickel Asia, and Philex Mining, also ended the day gaining.

Among the notable losers were BDO Unibank (the most actively traded, with P918 million in turnover, losing P2 to close at P163), Bank of the Philippine Islands, DigiPlus, PNB, Ayala Land, Security Bank, Union Bank, ACEN Corp., Citicore REIT, Meralco.

Also in the red were Petron, Shell Pilipinas, Axelum, Century Pacific Food, D&L Industries, Monde Nissin, Jollibee Foods, Figaro Coffee, DoubleDragon, Alliance Global, Globe Telecom, SM Prime, ABS-CBN, Dito CME, Bloomberry, PhilWeb, Wilcon Depot, Apex Mining, Atlas Mining, OceanaGold, and PXP Energy.

National Reinsurance, Megaworld, Robinsons Land, GMA Network, Puregold, Robinsons Retail, Philippine Seven Corp., Basic Energy, Emperador, Ginebra San Miguel, Citicore Renewable Energy, Haus Talk, Keepers Holdings, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Cebu Landmasters, Belle Corp., and DDMP REIT remained unchanged.