MANILA – The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained Monday on optimism for the possible coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine while the peso ended the day sideways against the US dollar.
The main stocks gauge rose by 0.12 percent, or 8.83 points, to 7,178.62 points.
All Shares followed with a jump of 0.83 percent or 34.87 points, to 4,254.26 points.
Most of the sectors tracked the main index, led by the Financials, which increased by 3.33 percent.
Mining and oil also inched up by 2.78 percent, Industrial by 0.48 percent, and Holding Firms by 0.26 percent.
Property index declined by 1.74 percent and Services by 0.03 percent.
Volume totaled to 10.3 billion shares amounting to PHP11.93 billion.
Advancers led decliners at 147 to 77, while 45 shares were unchanged.
“The PSEi slightly settled up as positive developments for a vaccine distribution offset negative news of soaring Covid-19 cases and disagreements on new stimulus,” Luis Limlingan, Regina Capital Development Corporation head of sales, said.
The risk-on sentiments benefited the peso, which ended the day sideways against the greenback at 48.205 from 48.23 Friday last week.
It opened the day at 48.23 and traded between 48.23 and 48.165.
Volume declined to USD425.4 million against the previous session’s USD660.6 million. (PNA)
