Shares close higher

Philippine stocks on Friday gained further, helping the benchmark measure close above the 7,900 mark anew, while equities in the region closed mixed after a recent run-up.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index was up 0.7 percent, or

55.20 points, to 7,947.25. The broader all-shares index was also up 0.63 percent, or 28.40 points, to 4,547.12.

Only the property subsector closed in the red Friday, as it lost 0.05 percent. All other subindices closed positive, with the most gains booked by holding firms, up 0.88 percent, and industrial firms, up 0.79 percent.

Buying volume was also higher with about 1.37 billion shares valued at P10.78 billion changing hands. Advancers beat decliners, 100 to 75, while another 52 companies closed unchanged, data from the PSE showed.

Ayala Land Inc. led the roster of most actively traded stocks, as it dipped 0.25 percent to P39.60 a share Friday.

This was followed by SM Prime Holdings, up 1.22 percent to P19.84; Metropolitan Bank and Trust, up 0.21 percent to P97.20; Universal Robina Corp., up 0.18 percent to P219.40; and Ayala Corp., up 0.25 percent to P795 a share.

Other actively traded stocks were BDO Unibank Inc., Global Ferronickel Holdings and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Miguel R. Camus