PSE Index Ends Slightly Lower as Profit-Taking Offsets Early Gains

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index climbed in early trading on Thursday before slipping on weaker investor sentiment to close slightly lower at 6,677.95, down 8.36 points, or 0.12%.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, August 6, 2026

The market opened strongly and reached an intraday high of 6,706.34 as investors welcomed the prospect of an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz following talks between Oman and Iran.

However, gains were erased later in the session as investors engaged in profit-taking.

The broader market closed mixed. Industrials gained 0.97%, mining and oil rose 0.59%, and property edged up 0.07%. Meanwhile, financials fell 0.33%, holding firms declined 0.38%, and services dropped 0.44%.

Market favorite International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) slipped 0.50% to ₱1,000 after volatile trading that saw the stock reach an intraday high of ₱1,012 and a low of ₱982.

ICTSI recorded ₱1.7 billion in trades, accounting for nearly one-third of the day's total market turnover.

Market bellwether SM Investments Corp. declined 0.59% to ₱591.50 in another volatile session. Meanwhile, Apex Mining Co. Inc. fell 1.97% to ₱14.90 after trading between ₱15.98 and ₱14.76.

Total value turnover reached ₱6.16 billion, while foreign trades amounted to ₱7.24 billion.

The market posted net foreign selling of ₱323 million, with foreign buying at ₱3.459 billion and foreign selling at ₱3.783 billion.

Market breadth was nearly even, with 97 gainers, 96 losers, and 57 unchanged issues.

Speculative trading remained evident, particularly among second-line mining stocks, including Manila Mining Corp. B and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. B shares. Megawide Construction Corp. also advanced 1.18% to ₱4.29.