PSE Index Shows Optimism Returning

Optimism is returning to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index, with foreign investors coming in strongly.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, February 23, 2026

After rising above the 6,500 mark and hitting an intraday high of 6,534.00 points for the first time, the index closed slightly higher at 6,488.51 points — up 23.39 points or 0.36%.

Early gains, however, were pared back at the close as investors took profits. Universal Robina retreated to P74.95, down 0.46% after reaching a high of P76.50.

Meanwhile, Meralco managed to stay in positive territory at P620, up 0.65%, after a roller-coaster session that saw it trade between P632 and P615.

Foreign investors were net buyers at P858 million, with foreign buying at P3.445 billion and foreign selling at P2.586 billion, as investors cheered the index’s move toward the 6,500 level.

However, as is often the case, profit-taking followed.

BDO Unibank shed 0.36% to P138.30 after hitting P140, while Bank of the Philippine Islands retreated 0.59% to P118. Despite this, the financials sector still closed 0.14% higher.

The mining and oil index posted a hefty 2.97% gain, as geopolitical risks pushed gold prices above $5,000 per ounce.

This spurred investors to lift Apex Mining by 5.33%, while second-liners Benguet A and Benguet B both surged 13.33% to close at P6.80 and P6.97, respectively. The industrial sector rose 0.98%, holding firms gained 0.73%, and property advanced 1.39%. Services, however, declined 0.59%, weighed down by ICTSI’s 1.18% drop to P672.

Investors also accumulated Jollibee Foods following its disclosure of an acquisition in a Korean food chain. Its shares climbed 3.27% to P214.80, signaling renewed interest in consumer stocks.

Property counters also attracted bets, with Ayala Land up 1.88% to P21.65 and SM Prime advancing 2.15% to P21.40.

Market bellwether SM Investments, however, saw limited activity, closing just 0.14% higher at P700.

Value turnover reached P6.12 billion, with 123 gainers, 69 losers, and 72 unchanged shares, including Megaworld, Abacore, Alternergy, Petron, Integrated Micro, Bloomberry, and MRC Allied.

Among the gainers were Ayala Corp., OceanaGold, Semirara Mining, DigiPlus, Ginebra, Megawide, GT Capital, Globe Telecom, PLDT, JG Summit, and Philex Mining.

Losers included AllHome, AREIT RT, Shell Pilipinas, D&L Industries, Keepers Holdings, Puregold, Converge, and First Gen. Today’s trading reflects renewed vigor in the PSE, fueled by nascent foreign investor interest and expectations that the Bangko Sentral may further cut interest rates.