PSE Index Climbs 1.58% on Renewed Middle East Ceasefire Hopes

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index rallied on Monday as renewed hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East boosted investor sentiment, closing at 6,334.72 points, up 98.28 points, or 1.58 percent.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, August 3, 2026

All sectoral indices ended higher except Property, which slipped 0.84 percent.

The Services index led the gains with a 3.32-percent advance, followed by Mining and Oil, up 1.56 percent, Financials, up 1.26 percent, Holding Firms, up 0.76 percent, and Industrials, up 0.47 percent.

Market favorite International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) climbed to a new record high of ₱1,005.00, gaining 4.36 percent.

Foreign investors accounted for ₱508 million of the stock's ₱1.38 billion in total trades.

Market bellwether SM Investments Corp. edged up 0.08 percent to ₱595.00 as investors took advantage of bargain-hunting opportunities following recent declines.

Despite the strong market performance, trading activity remained relatively subdued amid lingering concerns over inflation and the broader economic outlook, even as the peso strengthened to below ₱61 against the U.S. dollar.

The Property sector's decline was largely driven by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), which fell 5.33 percent to ₱16.00. In contrast, SM Prime Holdings Inc. rose 1.42 percent to ₱18.56.

ALI continued to face selling pressure following investor concerns over its reported discontinuation of several property projects.

Total value turnover reached ₱5.80 billion, while foreign trades amounted to ₱5.141 billion.

The market posted net foreign buying of ₱75 million, with foreign purchases totaling ₱2.608 billion and foreign sales reaching ₱2.532 billion. Market breadth was positive, with 109 advancers, 79 decliners, and 53 unchanged issues.