PSEi trades with caution ahead of GDP data
Local stocks started the week on a weaker note, with the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) retreating as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of key economic data.
The PSEi fell 0.94 percent, or 59.39 points, to close at 6,273.87 on Monday, reflecting a cautious market while investors await the release of the Philippines’ fourth-quarter 2025 gross domestic product figures later this week.
Trading was subdued, with net value turnover reaching only P5.27 billion, signaling limited risk appetite.
Foreign investors added to the downside, ending the session as net sellers with outflows amounting to P13.06 million, according to data from Philstocks Financial Inc.
Sectoral performance was mixed. Mining and oil stocks led the market, rising 3.23 percent, as gold prices climbed past the $5,000-per-ounce mark, boosting sentiment for mining issues.
In contrast, the services sector posted the steepest decline, dropping 2.07 percent during the session.
Market breadth was negative, with decliners edging out advancers, 117 to 88, underscoring the generally cautious tone in trading.
Among index heavyweights, Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. emerged as the top index gainer, climbing 1.94 percent to P15.80.
On the other end, Jollibee Foods Corp. weighed on the benchmark after sliding 3.4 percent to P196.10, making it the day’s worst-performing index stock.
Analysts noted that investor sentiment may remain guarded in the near term as the market looks to upcoming economic data for clearer direction, with trading activity expected to stay selective amid lingering uncertainty.
