MANILA – The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended Wednesday higher despite uncertainty amid the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), but the peso depreciated against the US dollar.
The main equities gauge rose by 0.53 percent, or 36.68 points, to 6,949.39 points.
All Shares followed with a jump of 0.25 percent, or 10.53 points, to 4,286.29 points.
Most of the sectoral indexes also gained during the day with Services rising by 1.19 percent; Holding Firms, 0.62 percent; and Property, 0.51 percent.
Both the Financials and Industrial indexes ended sideways with an increase of 0.03 percent.
Only the Mining and Oil fell during the day after a drop of 0.31 percent.
Volume reached 742.74 million amounting to PHP5.87 billion.
Gainers led losers at 90 to 84, while 61 shares were unchanged.
“Philippine shares continued the strong run even as uncertainty continues to plague investors regarding the spread of the Delta variant,” Regina Capital Development Corporation head of sales Luis Limlingan said.
Limlingan said investors also considered as a positive development the government’s decision to implement granular lockdowns in Metro Manila to address the rising number of Covid-19 infections, particularly due to the Delta variant.
Meanwhile, the peso weakened against the greenback and ended the day at 50.11 from its 50.025 close a day ago.
It opened the day at 50.15 and traded between 50.2 and 50.07.
Average level for the day stood at 50.136.
Volume reached USD937.6 million, higher than the previous session’s USD788.45 million. (PNA)
