The PSEi ended the session at 5,942.66—a gain of 1.27 percent, or 74.78 points. The broader all-shares index was up 1.01 percent, or 35.75 points, to 3,563.65.
Without major domestic drivers, stock market investors turned to developments abroad, including the overnight rally in Wall Street after US President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of another stimulus package.
All subsectors advanced on Thursday, with the biggest gains coming from mining and oil, up 3.38 percent, and holding firms, up 1.56 percent, and mining and industrial, up 1.52 percent.
A total of 2.26 billion shares valued at P19.57 billion changed hands yesterday. Gainers outnumbered losers 130-71, while 39 companies closed unchanged.
SM Investments Corp. was the most actively traded on Thursday as it rose 2.66 percent to P888 per share.
It was followed by Dito CME Holdings Corp., down 0.52 percent to P5.74; Metro Pacific Investments Corp., up 3.59 percent to P4.04; Ayala Land Inc., up 1.18 percent to P30.05; and International Container Terminal Services, up 0.09 percent to P114 per share. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS