The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined on Monday, slipping 0.65 percent to 6,349.16 as the market succumbed to late-session profit taking. Investors remained cautious while awaiting fresh catalysts, particularly the release of fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 corporate earnings results.

Trading activity stayed relatively subdued, with net value turnover reaching P5.62 billion, lower than the year-to-date average of P6.42 billion. Despite the index decline, foreign investors were modest net buyers, recording P25.95 million in net inflows.

Mixed sectoral performance

Sector performance was mixed, with mining stocks leading the gains, climbing 4.71 percent, while services stocks posted the steepest decline, falling 2.99 percent. Market breadth slightly favored advancers, which edged decliners 100 to 95.

Among index heavyweights, GT Capital Holdings Inc. emerged as the top gainer, rising 4.53 percent to P669.00.

Peso strengthened further

Meanwhile, the Philippine peso strengthened further, closing at P58.45 per US dollar, improving from the Friday close of P58.58.

Growing expectations that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may consider additional policy easing, following softer economic growth and manageable inflation, helped sustain investor confidence in Philippine assets and supported the peso.

While global investors remain cautious, the absence of strong upward pressure on the US dollar allowed emerging market currencies, including the peso, to appreciate modestly.