PSE Index Inches Up as August Worries Weigh on Financials

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index edged slightly higher today, closing at 6,353.63 points—up by 4.98 points or 0.08%—as the looming “Ghost Month” in August put pressure on financial stocks, which fell by 1.19%, while other sectors posted modest gains.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, August 5, 2025

The trifecta of Metrobank, PNB, and Bank of the Philippine Islands pulled the financial sector lower, overshadowing gains in BDO Unibank, Union Bank, and Security Bank. Financials ended as the only sub-index in the red.

The industrial index rose by a marginal 0.03% as Universal Robina declined.

Holding firms posted a 0.26% gain, although market bellwether SM Investments failed to offset losses in Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, San Miguel Corp., and JG Summit.

The services index advanced by 0.95%, mining and oil rose 0.93%, and property climbed 1.02%.

Gaming stock DigiPlus remained the most actively traded, with ₱488 million in trades, followed by ICTSI with ₱351 million. Both recorded gains, though overall trade volume remained subdued amid investor caution tied to the start of August.

Value turnover reached ₱5.63 billion, while foreign transactions totaled ₱5.1 billion. Foreign buying amounted to ₱2.542 billion against foreign selling of ₱2.696 billion, resulting in net foreign selling of ₱153 million.

Among the shares in the green were Ayala Land, SM Prime, Globe Telecom, RL Commercial REIT, Shell Pilipinas, Bright Kindle, EastWest Bank, PSE, ACEN Corp., Alternergy, Aboitiz Power, Manila Water, Semirara Mining, Monde Nissin, Apex Mining, Nickel Asia, OceanaGold, PXP Energy, Robinsons Land, GMA-7, Converge, Wilcon Depot, Belle Corp., Bloomberry, and Alliance Global.

Among the stocks in the red were SPNEC, Ferronoux, Citicore REIT, Century Pacific Food, Emperador, RFM, Integrated Micro-Electronics, Puregold, Haus Talk, DITO CME, and AREIT REIT.

Unchanged stocks included First Gen, Petron, Vitarich, D&L Industries, Figaro Coffee, Cosco Capital, LT Group, PLDT, Atlas Mining, Philex Mining, and Philodrill.