PSE Gains 0.64%, But Investor Pessimism Persists

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSE) on Thursday gained 38.85 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 6,153.66, although investor pessimism remained evident.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, June 18, 2026

Sector performance was mixed, with gains in holding firms, services and property stocks attributed largely to bargain hunting rather than improving market fundamentals, underscoring continued uncertainty.

Property giants Ayala Land and SM Prime recovered, posting gains of 7.77 percent to P14.70 and 0.54 percent to P18.52, respectively, helping lift the property sector by 1.72 percent.

Conglomerates Ayala Corp., Alliance Global Group and JG Summit Holdings posted gains that outweighed the decline in market bellwether SM Investments Corp., which fell 1 percent to P596.

The services sector advanced 2 percent, driven by market favorite International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), which rose 2.78 percent to P925 on trades worth P1.59 billion.

Financials declined 0.68 percent, while industrials slipped 0.27 percent. Mining and oil fell 2.87 percent, reflecting continued market pessimism as Apex Mining and Philex Mining posted losses despite elevated gold prices.

The market experienced a roller-coaster session, reaching an intraday high of 6,180.92 before falling to a low of 6,118.12.

Market breadth remained negative, with 100 decliners, 82 advancers and 56 unchanged issues.

Value turnover reached P7.14 billion, while total foreign trades amounted to P8.4 billion. Net foreign buying stood at P167 million, with foreign purchases of P4.297 billion and foreign sales of P4.129 billion.