PSEi closes down 0.2%

Philippine stocks eased lower Thursday on relatively thin volume as the rest of the region saw mixed results.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange, in particular, shed 0.2 percent, or 15.7 points, to 7,750.42 while the broader all-shares index dropped by 0.33 percent to 4,785. Elsewhere in Asia, investors mulled over positive economic data on Chinese retail sales and equipment orders in the United States.

Data from the PSE showed some 1.8 billion shares valued at P5.6 billion changing hands yesterday. Decliners outnumbered gainers by 107 to 77 while 49 stocks were unchanged.

Among subsectors, only mining and oil as well as services closed positive, gaining 1.67 percent and 0.23 percent, respectively. Losers for the session were led by industrial stocks, down 0.56 percent, followed by property, down 0.39 percent.

Some support also came from overseas. PSE data showed that foreigners were net buyers to the tune of P322.87 million on Thursday.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the most actively traded yesterday as it gained 0.51 percent to P118.90 per share.

It was followed by Ayala Land Inc., down 0.12 percent to P42.80; JG Summit Holdings, down 2.37 percent to P61.70; PLDT Inc., up 1.16 percent to P1,132 and SM Investments Corp., down 0.64 percent to P925 per share.