Stocks in Philippines Hit 6-year Low

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) continued its downward trend below 5,600 on Thursday, its lowest level since May 2020, extending its year-to-date losses to around 8% as concerns over the country's economic outlook deepened. Sentiment weakened further after the IMF warned that the Philippines could record Southeast Asia's fifth-lowest growth this year, citing sluggish investment and persistent inflation. Elevated oil prices and bond yields alongside peso weakness also weighed on investor confidence. Selling pressure on large-cap stocks persisted, led by heavyweight ICTSI, which fell 1.6%, while SM Investments declined 1.1%. Meralco also lost 0.6%, Ayala Corp slipped 1%, Aboitiz Power shed 0.9%, and San Miguel Food and Beverage edged down 0.1%. On the upside, BDO Unibank gained 0.9%, BPI rose 0.6%, and SM Prime Holdings advanced 2.5%.

PSEi decreased to 5580.00 Index Points, the lowest since May 2020. Over the past 4 weeks, Philippines Stock Exchange PSEi Index lost 6.73%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 8.05%.

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.