PSE Index Up on Bargain Hunting

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index closed higher on bargain hunting, as investors brushed aside early-session jitters and returned before the close, lifting the benchmark by 26.22 points, or 0.41%, to 6,394.77.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Index, February 18, 2026

The market opened weak, with volatility in coal-related stocks weighing on sentiment.

Semirara Mining and Power Corporation fell 13.60% to ₱22.15, while its parent firm DMCI Holdings dropped 7.61%, dragging several blue chips lower. Market bellwether SM Investments Corporation slipped 0.50% to ₱690.50.

The index slid to an intraday low of 6,348.72 before bargain hunters stepped in, pushing most sectoral indices into positive territory.

Only the industrial index declined, down 0.72%.

Investors appeared to view the pullback as temporary, driving gains across key sectors: financials rose 0.17%, holding firms added 0.07%, services climbed 1.65%, mining and oil advanced 0.36%, and property gained 0.92%.

Foreign investors turned net buyers, with net inflows of ₱467 million. Foreign buying totaled ₱2.389 billion against foreign selling of ₱1.921 billion.

Among actively traded stocks, Apex Mining Co., Inc. rebounded from a low of ₱14.72 to close at ₱15.38, up 1.32%, after hitting an intraday high of ₱15.64. Ayala Land, Inc. dipped to ₱20.45 before recovering to an intraday high of ₱20.95, ending the session up 2.20%.

Despite the late rally, overall trading remained subdued, with total value turnover at ₱5.17 billion. Market breadth was slightly positive, with 101 gainers, 93 losers, and 63 unchanged issues.

Among the gainers were International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), up 1.74% to ₱671.50; JG Summit Holdings, Inc., which rose 1.61% to ₱28.45; and Megaworld Corporation, up 1.33% to ₱2.29.

On the downside, Jollibee Foods Corporation fell 2.87% to ₱203, BDO Unibank, Inc. eased 0.07% to ₱136.40, and San Miguel Corporation slipped 0.07% to ₱69.95.