PSE Index Gains as Investor Appetite Trumps Hesitation

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index closed at its intraday high as investor appetite trumped hesitation, finishing 57.97 points higher, or up 0.90%, at 6,465.12.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, February 20, 2026

Investors flocked to banking stocks, anticipating stronger earnings following the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ removal of reserve requirements for trust accounts — a move expected to bolster consumer and business lending and improve profitability.

BDO Unibank advanced 1.91% to P138.80, while Metrobank surged 3.68% to P76 after disclosing cash dividends of P1.50 per share, lifting the Financials sector by 1.68%.

Speculative appetite also rose on the back of surging gold prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Apex Mining jumped 4.53% to P16.14 — the first time it crossed the P16 level — benefiting as well Philex Mining, which closed 1.16% higher at P10.48. The Mining and Oil sector climbed 1.11%, while Industrials rose 0.44%, Holding Firms gained 0.26%, Services increased 0.89%, and Property advanced 0.42%.

Foreign investors shared in the optimism, posting net foreign buying of P351 million, with foreign buying at P2.957 billion and foreign selling at P2.605 billion.

Total foreign trades amounted to P5.5 billion, matching the day’s value turnover.

Market breadth showed 107 gainers, 93 losers, and 64 unchanged issues, including

AREIT RT, Citicore RT, JG Summit, Century Properties, Alternergy, Topline, Figaro Coffee, Vitarich, Concrete Holdings, RFM, and A. Brown.

Among the gainers were ICTSI, up 1.49% to P680; Jollibee Foods, up 1.66% to P208; Ayala Land, up 2.66% to P21.25; market bellwether SM Investments, up 1.08% to P699; and Bank of the Philippine Islands, up 0.94% to P118.70.

Among the losers were Ayala Corp., down 0.09% to P568; OceanaGold, down 0.53% to P37.85; and ACEN Corp., First Gen, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global, and San Miguel.