PSEi closes up 0.3%

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose on relatively weak volume Friday amid the lack of major local drivers and optimism overseas that the United States can resolve a trade row with Mexico.

The PSEi on Friday rose 0.3 percent, or 24.12 points, to 7,983.98 while the broader all-shares index was up 0.12 percent or 5.92 points to 4,890.79.

Among sub-sectors, gainers were led by financials, up 0.82 percent, followed by services and holding firms, up 0.37 percent and 0.25 percent, respectively. Subindices that closed in the red were led by mining and oil, down 0.55 percent, followed by industrial and property stocks.

The mixed showing came as a total of 801.2 million shares valued at P4.2 billion changed hands on Friday, data from the PSE showed.

A total of 103 firms gained, 86 closed in negative territory while 48 ended unchanged.

Property giant Ayala Land Inc. was the most actively traded on Friday as it lost 0.4 percent to P49.80 per share.

It was followed by BDO Unibank Inc., up 1.3 percent to P139.80; International Container Terminal Services, up 1.1 percent to P137.50; Manila Water Co., down 3.91 percent to P23.35, and Ayala Corp., down 0.49 percent to P923.

Other actively traded stocks were PLDT Inc., unchanged at P1,230, Jollibee Foods Corp., up 0.07 percent to P275.20, Bank of the Philippine Islands, up 0.99 percent to P81.80, Megaworld Corp., down 1.3 percent to P6.07, and Phinma Energy Corp., down 0.79 percent to P2.52 per share.