Stocks slightly up ahead of Aquino’s SONA

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) The local stocks index was marginally up on Monday ahead of President Aquino’s second State-of-the-Nation-Address.

The main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index added 2.14 points or 0.048 percent to finish at 4,480.50.

Trading was mixed across counters. The financial, holding firms and property counters firmed up while the industrial, services and mining/oil counters traded in the red.

Value turnover was thin at P4.3 billion as financial markets awaited what the President had to say during the SONA Monday afternoon.

Despite the slight index gain, there were 75 advancers which were edged out by 80 decliners while 39 stocks were unchanged.

First posted 12:45 pm | Monday, July 25th, 2011