PSEi falls as growth, oil concerns weigh

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 29.23 points, or 0.50 percent, to 5,814.56 Tuesday, while the peso gained 6 centavos, or 0.10 percent, to P62.72 per US dollar as investors weighed weaker growth prospects, elevated oil prices, higher Treasury yields and Middle East tensions.

Cautious trading

Trading remained cautious, with net value turnover at P5.52 billion and foreign investors posting P1.01 billion in net outflows. Services gained 0.86 percent, the only sector to advance, while Holding Firms fell 2.17 percent, Mining & Oil 1 percent, Property 0.97 percent, Financials 0.50 percent and Industrial 0.28 percent.

Monde Nissin rose 1.48 percent to P6.16, while Ayala Corp. plunged 8.07 percent to P490.

Fitch Solutions’ BMI lowered its 2026 Philippine growth forecast to 3.3 percent, citing infrastructure delays and weaker household spending.

Meanwhile, domestic fuel prices rose Tuesday, with diesel increasing P8.82 per liter, kerosene P6.47 and gasoline P4.88.

Brent crude rose 1.7 percent to $102.06 a barrel and WTI 1.7 percent to $97.40, ending a four-session decline as investors watched for possible US-Iran talks. Continued Houthi attacks and uncertainty over regional shipping routes kept geopolitical risks elevated.