The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell back below the 6,000 mark on Friday, dragged down by broad selling and the continued weakening of the peso against the US dollar.
The benchmark index slipped 1.09 percent to 5,988.02, while the broader All Shares index dropped 0.81 percent to 3,608.11. All sectoral indices closed in negative territory, led by Mining and Oil, which fell 2.02 percent, followed by Financials (-1.51 percent) and Services (-1.25 percent).
Market turnover reached 2.89 billion shares valued at ₱26.28 billion, with decliners (123) outnumbering advancers (75), while 49 issues were unchanged.
The local currency continued to lose ground, closing at ₱58.62 to the US dollar, slightly weaker than Thursday’s ₱58.61 finish. It opened at ₱58.55 and traded within the ₱58.55–₱58.71 range. Daily volume eased to $1.39 billion from $1.68 billion previously.
The market’s cautious tone may be attributed to persistent currency weakness and global risk aversion, as investors await further signals on US interest rate policy. The peso’s slide—its weakest level since late 2022—has raised concerns about import-driven inflation and foreign fund outflows, both of which could continue to pressure equities in the near term.