PSE Index Sheds A Minuscule Loss

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index Monday recorded a slight decline as foreign investors continued their selling spree, closing at 6,095.97 points—down by 2.07 points or 0.03 percent.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, February 24, 2025

Holding firms, which have significant index weights, along with financials, buoyed by the 200-basis-point decline in the reserve requirement for banks, helped offset losses in four other sub-indices.

The industrial sector dropped by 0.87 percent, services lost 0.87 percent, mining and oil retreated by 0.05 percent, and property declined by 0.73 percent.

However, gains from Ayala Corp., DMC Holdings, and Cosco Capital pushed the holdings sector up by 0.40 percent, while increases in bank stocks such as Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), EastWest Bank, and PNB drove the financial sector up by 0.86 percent.

Analysts foresee continued sideways movement, with a higher likelihood of declines due to persistent global financial uncertainty, particularly the impact of U.S. tariff policies on emerging markets like the Philippines.

Pundits noted that the only positive news of the week was the increased money supply following the reduction in banks' reserve requirements, which is expected to inject over P300 billion into the economy for borrowers.

Foreign buying amounted to P1.85 billion, while foreign selling reached P2.486 billion, resulting in net foreign selling of P632 million. Total foreign trades amounted to P4.34 billion, while total value turnover hit P4.46 billion.

The market recorded 73 gainers, 111 losers, and 54 unchanged stocks. The index peaked at 6,114.60 points before losing momentum and dropping to a low of 6,069.47 points.

Market bellwether SM Investments was among the unchanged stocks, along with ACEN Corp., Manila Water, MRC Allied, Semirara Mining, SPNEC, Axelum, Century Food, Aboitiz Equity, Figaro Coffee, GT Capital, Cebu Landmasters, and Filinvest REIT.

Among the gainers were Emperador, San Miguel Food and Beverage, Basic Energy, Citicore REIT, CEMEX Holdings, Meralco, AREIT, PLDT, PH Resorts, Puregold, Philex Mining, Philodrill, MacroAsia, Dito CME, Cebu Air, VistaREIT, RL Commercial REIT, Citicore REIT, Megawide, and First Gen.

Among the losers were Ayala Land, ICTSI, BDO Unibank, Universal Robina, Aboitiz Power, DigiPlus, JG Summit, Union Bank, Alternergy, Petron, Synergy Grid, AgriNurture, D&L Industries, Ginebra, Jollibee Foods, Keepers Holdings, Megaworld, MREIT, Vista Land, DoubleDragon, ABS-CBN, GMA-7, Robinsons Retail, PhilSeven, Nickel Asia, OceanaGold, PXP Energy, Haus Talk, PhilWeb, Apex Mining, and Atlas Mining.