PH stocks defy region’s downtrend

THE LOCAL stock barometer returned to positive territory on Monday despite a regional downturn triggered by weak factory data out of China.

Rebounding after a three-day decline, the Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 64.59 points to close at 7,198.85.

All counters gained, led by holding firms, which rose by 1.47 percent. There were 96 advancers that edged out 71 decliners while 43 stocks were unchanged.

Value turnover was thin at P4.48 billion. Doris Dumlao-Abadilla