Philippine shares end slightly higher

MANILA, Philippines—Local share prices inched up Monday, bucking losses on Wall Street, on buying of select blue chips.

The main Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 0.39 percent, or 18.51 points, to close at 4,802.03 points, with the broader all-shares index rising a similar 0.4 percent to 3,255.23 points.

Market heavyweight PLDT was the most heavily traded stock Monday. Other big gainers were Ayala Corp. (3.31 percent) and BDO Unibank (1.2 percent).

Most sub-indices closed higher at the end of trading, except for the industrials and property firms. Gainers, however, were led by the services sector due to PLDT’s gains.

Some 7.5 billion shares changed hands for P7.7 billion. Despite closing higher, decliners outnumbered gainers, 87 to 85, while 38 shares were unchanged.—Paolo G. Montecillo