PSE INDEX SOARS

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index soared today beyond a psychological milestone level as all six sub-sectors posted rises closing at 7,019 points, up a hefty 115.49 points or 1.67 percent.

There were a bit of gyrations with the index opening lower and touching a low of 6,843.83 points before surging to its highest, which was its closing performance after investors jumped in.

This resulted in net foreign buying of P51 million, with foreigners investing P3.32 billion against P3.272 billion selling.

Value turnover reached P8.803 billion with gainers ahead of losers 123 to 76 with 56 shares unchanged.

The property sub sector posted the biggest gain with a 2.34 percent increase followed by holding firms, up 1.70 percent, industrials 1.39 percent, financials up 1.36 percent, mining 1.31 per cent and services, 0.005 percent.

Dito CME was the day's most active as it went up by 56 centavos to P14.54, with trades of P827 million.

Three other second liners figured in the top 20 active stocks: Ayala Energy, up one centavo to P7.22 with trades of P400 million; Premiere Horizon, up 2 centavos to P2.52 with trades of P342 million, and Apollo Global, down P0.006 to P0.203 with trades of P247 million.

Market bellwether SM Investments went up by P6 to P1,039 on trades of P415.8 million, and its performance mirrored the PSE 's trading pattern as it hit a low of P1,010 and a high of P1,046 before closing P7 lower.

Market darling MerryMart closed at P6.79, up 5 centavos, but it hit a low of P6.55 and a high of P6.91.

BDO Unibank had the biggest foreign buying with P121 million as it rose by P2.50 to P109, while Converge had the biggest foreign selling at P114 million as it declined by 16 centavos to P17.20.

WEEKLY FEATURE : COLORSTEEL'S PRESIDENT BREAKS BARRIERS