Stock market investors start pricing in MSCI rebalancing
Global index provider MSCI has kept the MSCI Philippines Standard Index intact following the February 2026 index review, while adding Apex Mining Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to the small-cap basket.
Shares of Apex surged by 2.4 percent while Maynilad jumped 3.23 percent following MSCI’s latest rebalancing.
All index changes will be implemented after the close of Feb. 27 trades and will take effect on March 2.
Meanwhile, there were no additions or deletions to the MSCI Philippines Standard Index, allowing Jollibee Foods Corp. to remain a constituent. Shares of the fast-food giant climbed 4.1 percent.
First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. noted that the outcome was consistent with earlier expectations for the February review.
Maynilad entered the MSCI Small Cap Index with an estimated 5.09-percent weight, while Apex Mining joined with around 2.63 percent, First Metro said in a research note.
First Metro also noted that the review had resulted in a slight adjustment in the Philippines’ overall allocation, with the country’s weight declining by 0.001 percent.
Within the MSCI Philippines Standard Index, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), BDO Unibank and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) saw the largest weight increases.
ICTSI traded flat, while BPI gained 3.16 percent. Despite the weight increase, BDO shares slipped 1.06 percent, bucking the broader market’s positive tone.
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), SM Investments Corp. and SM Prime Holdings Inc. posted the biggest weight reductions. Despite the cuts, ALI and SM Prime rose by 2.55 percent and 1.63 percent, respectively, while SM Investments slightly fell.
For the MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index, JG Summit Holdings Inc., GT Capital Holdings Inc. and Universal Robina Corp. saw the steepest weight decreases following the review. However, both ended higher on Wednesday.
MSCI conducts quarterly index reviews that can trigger portfolio adjustments among funds tracking its benchmarks.
