Tariff on chips pull down on PSEi

Anxiety over the United States’ newest tariff imposition, particularly on the semiconductor industry, gripped investors on Friday.

By the end of the session, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) had lost 0.4 percent or 25.31 points to close at 6,339.38.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index shed 0.23 percent or 8.65 points to end at 3,767.41.

A total of 1.42 billion shares worth P7.25 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed. Foreigners were net buyers, with inflows totaling P37.65 million.

Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc., explained the index’s decline came on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s plan to slap a 100-percent tariff on semiconductors imports to America.

“Semiconductors are the Philippines’ top export to the US,” Tantiangco pointed out.

Banks logged the steepest slide as BDO Unibank Inc. shed 1.04 percent to P143 each, and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. lost 0.7 percent to P71.

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International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the top-traded stock as it lost 1.21 percent to P488 each, followed by SM Investments Corp., down 1.85 percent to P795; DigiPlus Interactive Corp., the newest addition to the PSEi, up 7.82 percent to P26.90; RL Commercial REIT Inc.., up 3.67 percent to P8.19; and SP New Energy Corp., down 10.49 percent to P1.45 each.

Others were Ayala Land Inc., up 2.82 percent to P27.35, and Jollibee Foods Corp., down 2.3 percent to P212.40.

Losers edged out gainers, 107 to 96, while 44 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed.