PSEi retreats as investors pocket gains

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) saw a slight pullback on Friday as investors booked profits after a four-day rally.

By the closing bell, the PSEi was down 0.34 percent, or 20.87 points, to 6,076.91 while the broader all-shares index was up 0.12 percent, or 4.45 points to 3,596.19.

The decline coincided with weak sentiments across the region as investors grew jittery with a drop in retail sales in China.

Subsectors were also a mixed bag on Friday with mining and oil leading gains at 1.72 percent. Losers were services and holding firms, down 0.98 percent and 0.69 percent, respectively.

Data from the PSE showed 6.8 billion shares valued at P9.5 billion changing hands. There were 88 gainers versus 97 decliners while 56 companies closed unchanged.

Liquor maker Emperador Inc. was the most actively tra­ded on Friday as it gained 7.65 percent to P10.98 per share.

It was followed by Ayala Land Inc., up 0.3 percent to P33.30, SM Investments Corp., up 0.33 percent to P900, SM Prime Holdings, unchanged at P31, and Semirara Mining and Power Corp., down 5.83 percent to P9.04 per share. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS