PH stocks up in subdued trade

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index closed in positive territory Thursday even as regional equities saw mixed results on lingering trade tensions between the United States and China.

The PSEi gained 0.28 percent, or 22.20 points, to 7,853.16 amid relatively subdued volume by the closing bell yesterday. The boarder all-shares index was up 0.21 percent, or 10.04 points, to 4,760.90.

Luis Gerado Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development, partly attributed the gains to “early window dressing.”

Subindices on Thursday also showed a mixed picture. Top gainers were holding firms, up 0.83 percent, and financials, up 0.5 percent. Mining and oil as well as industrial stocks also closed in the green.

Property and services, however, were down 0.21 percent and 0.28 percent, respectively.

Data from the PSE showed that a total of 1.25 billion shares valued at P6.33 billion changed hands. Decliners almost matched advancers 97 to 99 while 50 companies close unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc. was the most actively traded company yesterday. The SM Group’s flagship bank rose 0.39 percent to P130 per share.

It was followed by Ayala Land Inc., down 0.22 percent to P44.70, SM Prime Holdings Inc., down 0.38 percent to P38.85, GT Capital Holdings, up 4.46 percent to P890, and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., up 5.36 percent to P5.50 per share.

Other actively traded companies were Security Bank Corp., unchanged at P199.90, SM Investments Corp., up 0.16 percent to P965, International Container Terminal Services, down 0.32 percent to P94.70, PLDT Inc., down 1.06 percent to P1,400 and Ayala Corp., unchanged at P990 per share.