The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) ticked higher on Tuesday after sentiments were lifted by an increase in overseas remittances —a positive sign for the year-end holiday shopping season.
By the closing bell, the PSEi gained 0.34 percent, or 25.05 points, to 7,367.42 while the broader all-shares index was up 0.26 percent, or 10.14 points, to 3,961.67.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, cash sent home from overseas Filipino workers increased by 5.2 percent to $2.74 billion in September compared to the same period last year.
From a technical indicator standpoint, BDO Unibank Inc. chief strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the PSEi was still in consolidation in the 7,300 levels.
“Look for a try at the 7,500 levels. Failure to test the said levels could prompt some profit taking and could signal a near-term peak could be in place at 7,475.75 (Nov. 10 high),” he said in a note to investors.
Meanwhile, PSE subsectors ended mixed with mining and oil, services and holding firms recording gains for the session while financials, industrial and property firms ended lower.
Mining and oil rose the most at 1.7 percent as shares of the Consunji family’s Semirara Mining and Power Corp. jumped 6.16 percent to P22.40 per share.
A total of 1.2 billion shares valued at P9.52 billion changed hands while foreigners were net buyers with purchases of P863 million, data from the PSE showed.
Most shares ended lower, however, with decliners outnumbering advancers 113 to 88 while 46 companies closed unchanged.