Stocks in Philippines Hit 3-year Low

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed 1.1% to close at 6,620 on Wednesday, hitting its highest level since January 2025, mainly driven by strong investor appetite amid corporate earnings reports. Heavyweight stocks led the index, with International Container Terminal Services climbing 5.6%, SM Investments Corporation adding 0.7%, BDO gaining 1.1%, and Globe rising 3.8%. The PSEi was also supported by investors moving away from US assets amid trade-policy uncertainty. Although President Trump announced a 10%–15% global tariff, official documents show rates remain at 10%, with the White House working to implement the increase but without a set timeline. Meanwhile, the Philippine peso rose to around 57.6 per dollar, hovering near its highest level since September 2025, supported by a weaker greenback amid uncertainty over US tariffs and fiscal policies, and further influenced by investor caution on US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

PSEi increased to 6594.00 Index Points, the highest since January 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, Philippines Stock Exchange PSEi Index gained 5.1%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 7.3%.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slid 2.1% to close at 6,223 on Thursday, hitting its lowest level in over three weeks, as weaker-than-expected economic growth dampened market sentiment. The Philippines’ economy expanded by 3% year-on-year in Q4 2025, missing expectations of 3.8% growth and slowing from 3.9% in the previous quarter. It marked the weakest growth since the economy contracted in Q1 2021, dragged down by the fallout from a high-profile infrastructure corruption scandal, a series of destructive typhoons, and mounting trade pressures. Despite the headwinds, the government remains cautiously optimistic about a second-half recovery, backed by higher spending, easing inflation, and rate cuts. Heavyweight stocks led the decline, notably International Container Terminal Services (-2.5%), SM Investment Corporation (-2.1%), and BDO Unibank (-4.4%). Meanwhile, the Philippine peso weakened to around 58.96 per dollar, retreating from a one-month high in the previous session.