PSEi nears bear territory

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) moved dangerously close toward the bear territory on Monday as it tumbled to the 6,100 level, again entering another seven-month low.

By the end of the session, the benchmark PSEi tumbled by 1.58 percent, or 99.32 points, to close at 6,196.88, its lowest since June 2024.

Likewise, the broader All Shares Index shed 1.13 percent, or 41.49 points, to 3,639.85.

A total of 1.14 billion shares worth P5.44 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed. Foreigners remained net sellers, with foreign outflows totaling P322.39 million.

Although significantly lower than its peak of 7,554 in October, the PSEi has not yet entered the bear territory, according to AP Securities Inc. research head Alfred Benjamin Garcia.

He noted that the index had so far declined by 18.5 percent from its recent peak. For the PSEi to enter the bear territory, it needs to decrease by at least 20 percent.

“We have a minor support zone [at] around 6,150 to 6,180. But if we go further to the psychological resistance at 6,000, we’ll enter the bear market territory,” Garcia said in a text message.

Meanwhile, Japhet Tantiangco, research head at Philstocks Financial Inc., explained that investors maintained a cautious stance ahead of the Philippines’ 2024 economic growth data and the US Federal Reserve meeting later this week.

“Expectations that the local economy was unable to hit the government’s growth target last year weighed on the market,” he said.

All subsectors were painted red, although industrial firms saw the steepest decline.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the top-traded stock as it lost 2.65 percent to P375, followed by BDO Unibank Inc., down 1.07 percent to P139; China Banking Corp., down 6.62 percent to P64.90; Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., up 0.21 percent to P70.70; and Ayala Land Inc., down 2.18 percent to P24.65 each.

Losers overpowered gainers, 118 to 68, while 48 companies closed unchanged, stock exchange data also showed.