MANILA -- The Philippine peso improved against the US dollar Thursday while the main equities gauge managed to stay afloat as investors remained on the sidelines given the developments overseas.
The local currency ended the day at 52.11 from 52.21 a day ago, which a trader attributed to risk-on sentiments partly on news quoting US President Donald Trump as saying that a trade deal with China may come soon.
For the day, the peso opened little changed at 52.22 compared to its 52.25 start Wednesday.
It surged to 52.07 but also dipped to 52.24, resulting in an average of 52.17.
Volume reached USD1.15 billion, higher than the USD1.04 billion in the previous session.
The currency pair is seen to trade between 52.10 and 52.30 Friday.
Relatively, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended the day at 7,896.48 points, 0.003 percent or 0.24 points up.
All Shares index slid 0.02 percent, or 0.75 points, to 4,769.34 points.
Most of the sectoral gauges ended the day with gains, led by Financials at 0.86 percent, followed by Mining and Oil, 0.72 percent; Services, 0.30 percent; and Property, 0.17 percent.
Holding Firms and Industrial fell by 0.42 percent and 0.31 percent, respectively.
Volume reached 773.24 million shares amounting to PHP5.69 billion.
Gainers led losers at 107 to 80, while 57 shares were unchanged. (PNA)
