PSE Index Plummets a Level

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index fell sharply on Monday to 5,828.06 points, down by 101.62 points or 1.71%, as five of six sub-indices posted hefty losses.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, November 3, 2025

Foreign investors were net sellers of ₱1.32 billion, with persistent corruption issues continuing to weigh on market sentiment — leaving the PSE as the region’s worst-performing bourse.

Only the services sub-index bucked the trend, inching up by 0.03%, while the financials declined 3.33%, industrials 1.24%, holding firms 1.34%, property 1.97%, and mining and oil 2.11%, despite a rise in gold prices.

Even Philex Mining, which disclosed a 50% rise in third-quarter income to ₱344 million, dipped 0.99% to ₱7.99.

Selling pressure started at the opening, with the index shedding 108 points from Friday’s close to 5,801.34 before plunging further to an intraday low of 5,761.32 points, then recovering slightly on bargain-hunting.

Foreign investors traded briskly in both directions but ended with total foreign selling of ₱6.89 billion against foreign buying of ₱5.56 billion, for total foreign transactions of ₱12.44 billion — about one-third higher than the day’s total value turnover of ₱9.8 billion.

The figures tell a story of investor hesitation amid continuing corruption issues involving alleged ghost flood-control projects, a topic that has even entered pop culture.

Cheerleaders from opposing UAAP basketball teams were reportedly shouting “Ikulong ang mga corrupt!” (“Jail the corrupt!”) during games.

Market bellwether SM Investments slipped 1.23% to ₱720, with foreign investors accounting for ₱115 million of ₱241 million in trades. San Miguel Corporation retreated 1.54% to ₱64, with foreign selling of ₱7 million out of ₱9.5 million in total trades.

BDO Unibank slumped 4.27% to ₱127.50, Bank of the Philippine Islands fell 2.28% to ₱103, and Metrobank dropped 3.99% to ₱66.25, making the financial sector the hardest hit.

Ayala Corp. declined 2.86% to ₱454.60, while Jollibee Foods Corp. fell 3.05% to ₱210, with foreign investors accounting for ₱100 million of ₱233 million in trades. ICTSI was the day’s most active stock, with ₱2.06 billion in trades, slipping 0.19% to ₱529.

Bright spots included gaming firm DigiPlus, which surged 8.83% to ₱22.80; Atlas Mining, up 3.52% to ₱5.30; Globe Telecom, which advanced 0.20% to ₱1,480; and ACEN Corp., which climbed 0.43% to ₱2.33.

Analysts expect the market to extend its slide, maintaining a neutral-to-bearish outlook. Losers outnumbered gainers 134 to 56, with 62 issues unchanged, including Megaworld, Haus Talk, MRC Allied, Vitarich, Century Properties, Cosco Capital, Universal Robina, and Petron.

Among the gainers were Ayala Land, VistaREIT, LT Group, JG Summit, Puregold, Robinsons Retail, SSI Group, GMA-7, Figaro Coffee, Manila Water, PSE, RCBC, PNB, San Miguel Food and Beverage, and Anglo Philippine Holdings.

Among the losers were Aboitiz Power, SM Prime, Meralco, OceanaGold, Apex Mining, Wilcon Depot, ABS-CBN, PLDT, Converge, First Gen, Citicore REIT, Synergy Grid, Alternergy, Century Pacific Food, Concrete Aggregates, AgriNurture, AbaCore, and GT Capital.