PSE Index Declines on Thin Trading

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index declined Monday to 6,084.07 points—its lowest level—as it dropped by 5.46 points or 0.09 percent on thin trading.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, October 20, 2025

Total value turnover reached only P3.65 billion, down by 40 percent from the average, as gold prices cooled and investors turned their attention to the upcoming trade talks between the US and China for guidance.

Pessimism loomed over the market, which saw only one of the Top 10 most active stocks posting a gain.

Only Meralco, which rose by 2.33 percent to P570, managed to close in the green, while the other top actively traded stocks ended in losses.

Meralco’s rise, along with those of ACEN Corp., up by 3.78 percent to P2.45, and SPNEC, which advanced by 3.51 percent to P1.18, nudged the industrial sub-index 0.28 percent higher.

Manila Water and Monde Nissin, however, moved in the opposite direction, with the former down by 2.16 percent to P34, and Universal Robina slipping 0.33 percent to P74.40.

Emerging as the most active stock was ICTSI, with P406 million in trades. It closed at its lowest price point of P539, down by 0.65 percent. It had an intraday high of P555 as trading remained volatile, with the index briefly touching 6,141.87 points.

Blue chips initially advanced before selling pressure took its toll, as traders viewed the market as bearish to neutral amid concerns over unaddressed “ghost” flood control projects that have sparked sporadic protest actions.

BDO Unibank, the second most active stock with P259 million in trades, closed at its lowest level of P138.60, down by 0.79 percent, after hitting a high of P140.50.

Ayala Land, the third most active with P226 million, reached a high of P22.75 before closing at P22.45, down by 0.44 percent.

The financial sub-index lost 0.56 percent, as Bank of the Philippine Islands and Security Bank declined by 0.55 percent to P108.60 and 1.60 percent to P70.85, respectively.

Metrobank inched up 0.14 percent to P69.95. Holding firms retreated by 0.11 percent, with market bellwether SM Investments slipping 0.13 percent to P745 after reaching a high of P753.

Abacore, meanwhile, surged 8.45 percent to P0.445. The services sector fell 0.61 percent, while mining and oil slid 2.54 percent. Property gained 0.55 percent.

SM Prime lifted the property sub-index by 0.55 percent as it rose 2.21 percent to P23.10.

The mining and oil sub-index, however, slumped 2.54 percent as US gold prices cooled to $4,250 per ounce amid concerns over a global economic slowdown driven by tariff wars that have also weighed on US stocks.

Mining shares, after a strong run-up fueled by gold’s earlier surge, declined as investors took profits.

Apex Mining dropped 6.99 percent to P10.64, Philex Mining fell 1.25 percent to P9.49, and OceanaGold lost 2.51 percent to P31.10.

Value turnover amounted to just P3.65 billion—40 percent below the daily average—as net foreign selling persisted. Foreign buying totaled P1.562 billion, while foreign selling reached P1.681 billion.

Market breadth was negative, with 75 gainers, 122 losers, and 50 unchanged issues, including GT Capital, PSE, DMCI Holdings, ABS-CBN, Alternergy, and Ginebra.

Among the gainers were EastWest, First Gen, Shell Pilipinas, Topline, Alliance Global, JG Summit, LT Group, San Miguel, Cebu Air, Haus Talk, Filinvest Land, MREIT, GMA-7, Converge, Integrated Micro, EEI, and Vitarich.

Among the losers were Puregold, MRC Allied, Manila Mining, PNB, Aboitiz Power, Citicore REIT, Petron, and Semirara Mining.