Stocks end mixed

Stocks ended relatively flat Friday after an activity-filled week that saw the benchmark measure decline 2.2 percent as investors pocketed returns after recent stellar gains.

Data from the bourse showed that on Friday alone, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) was down 0.02 percent, or 1.31 points, to 7,946.89. The broader all-shares index was up 0.06 percent, or 2.54 points, to 4,536.86.

Volumes were average, with the P35.01 billion in traded value mainly on account of a block sale of P26.49 billion worth of shares of Manila Electric Co. that were acquired by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. from an affiliate. Removing that transaction, traded volume on Friday was worth P8.5 billion.

Sub-sectors also ended mixed with gainers led by holding firms and services, up 0.25 percent and 0.18 percent, respectively. All other sub-indices fell, led by mining and oil, down 0.77 percent, and industrial, down 0.39 percent.

PSE data further showed that 97 stocks gained while 82 companies declined and another 41 issues closed unchanged. Foreign investors were net sellers in the amount of P976.97 million Friday, data from the PSE showed.

Metrobank led the list of most actively traded stocks as it lost 0.62 percent to P96.20 a share.

This was followed by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., up 0.41 percent to P2,912; GT Capital Holdings, down 2.56 percent to P1,296; Universal Robina Corp., down 3.14 percent to P216, and BDO Unibank, up 0.42 percent to P118.50 a share. Miguel R. Camus