The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) gained on Thursday after its flat performance the previous session. Any strong upside move, however, was tempered as investors remained cautious.
By the closing bell, the PSEi was up 0.65 percent, or 44.29 points, to 6,903.75. The broader all-shares index had also gained 0.53 percent, or 22.07 points, to 4,165.33.
Holding firms led the pack among subsectors with an increase of 1.22 percent. Property, financials as well as mining and oil also rose.
Industrial and services, however, dropped 0.21 percent and 0.14 percent, respectively.
Data from the PSE showed rising volumes as 36.2 billion shares valued at P10.4 billion were traded. Advancers outnumbered decliners 123 to 99 while 43 companies closed unchanged.
AC Energy Corp. was the most actively traded on Thursday as it dropped 6.85 percent to P7.21 per share.
It was followed by Dito CME Holdings Corp., 3.56 percent to P13.98, Converge ICT, up 5.21 percent to P17.36, Basic Energy Corp., unchanged at P1.12, and Jollibee Foods Corp., unchanged at P180 per share.