PSE Index Inches Up Amid Global Market Uncertainty

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index closed marginally higher on Tuesday, edging up by 5.83 points or 0.09% to finish at 6,145.59, amid continued market unease over U.S. tariff policies and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, April 22, 2025

From its previous session close at 6,143.83, the index barely moved, with four of the five sectoral indices posting only fractional gains. Foreign investors remained net sellers, offloading ₱2.01 billion worth of shares against ₱1.93 billion in foreign buying—resulting in a ₱38 million net outflow.

Sector performance was mixed: Industrials rose by 0.02%, Holding firms gained 0.36%, Services ticked up just 0.0005%, Property increased by 0.84%, and Mining and oil outperformed, surging 1.82% on speculation over rising gold prices.

Gold hovered around the $3,400 per ounce level, with analysts speculating a possible rally to $4,000, driven by global economic uncertainties, U.S. tariff fallout, and political pressure on U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

This triggered renewed interest in mining stocks. Manila Mining A and B, Lepanto A and B, Philex Mining, Apex Mining, and OceanaGold all saw gains.

Investors also showed preference for dividend-yielding stocks, notably PLDT, which is projected to offer a dividend yield above 7%.

Market turnover was subdued, reaching only ₱4.8 billion, below the daily average. Local investors contributed about ₱1 billion in trades. DigiPlus emerged as the most active stock, with ₱860 million in turnover.

Index heavyweight SM Investments rose ₱9.50 to ₱819.50, up 1.17%. The broader market saw 95 gainers, 83 losers, and 52 unchanged issues.

Notable gainers included Meralco, Ayala Land, SM Prime, Araneta Properties, Keepers Holdings, Union Bank, AREIT, National Reinsurance, Basic Energy, Manila Water, Synergy Grid, San Miguel Food and Beverage, and D&L Industries.

Also in the green were Figaro Coffee, Monde Nissin, Universal Robina, Vitarich, Abacore, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global, Cosco Capital, GT Capital, Converge, Filinvest REIT, Megaworld, GMA-7, MacroAsia, Robinsons Retail, and Wilcon Depot.

Among the decliners were Security Bank, Ayala Corp., Jollibee Foods, ICTSI, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank, Citicore REIT, Metrobank, Semirara Mining, SPNEC, Topline, Petron, Emperador, Ginebra San Miguel, and Victorias Milling.

Integrated Microelectronics, LT Group, San Miguel Corp., Cebu Landmasters, Century Properties, DoubleDragon, ABS-CBN, Globe Telecom, Dito CME, Cebu Air, SSI Group, and Atlas Mining were likewise down

.

Unchanged issues include China Bank, Alternergy, Aboitiz Power, Shell Pilipinas, VistaREIT, Vista Land, AgriNurture, Century Pacific Food, CEMEX Holdings, Puregold, Haus Talk, PLDT, Robinsons Land, Bloomberry Resorts, and PH Resorts.