PSEi climbs on peso strength, foreign buying
Philippine stocks ended higher on Wednesday as the peso’s appreciation against the US dollar buoyed investor sentiment, even as caution persisted ahead of key global and domestic economic data.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) rose 0.78 percent or 48.88 points to close at 6,355.78.
Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the PSEi gained for the second straight trading day, higher for most trading days since Dec. 22, 2025 or for more than a month.
Japhet Tantiangco, financial research manager at Philstocks, said market participation was firm, with net value turnover reaching P6.55 billion.
Foreign investors were net buyers. They posted net inflows of P463.37 million.
Despite the gain, trading was mixed during the session as investors stayed guarded while awaiting the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision and the release of the Philippines’ fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 gross domestic product data.
Services stocks led sectoral advances, climbing 2.53 percent. Property shares lagged, slipping 0.22 percent.
Market breadth was nearly even, with decliners narrowly edging advancers, 106 to 102.
International Container Terminal Services Inc. emerged as the day’s top gainer, jumping 4.12 percent to P645.00.
Meanwhile, ACEN Corp. weighed on the benchmark, sliding 5.1 percent to P2.79.
Analysts said the PSEi’s gain on Wednesday largely mirrored broader risk-on sentiment seen overseas.
At Wall Street, the S&P 500 notched a fresh record as stocks climbed in a session marked by mixed earnings.
