Stock index up for third straight session

April 30, 2018

Stocks gained for the third straight session on Monday as the main share index rose 1.3 percent. Meanwhile, the peso surged to a high of P51.67 against the US dollar in early trading from P51.965 on Friday. It closed at P51.74  on volume of $556.2 million at the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 98.23 points to 7,819.25. In the broader market, there were 130 gainers, 84 decliners and 45 shares unchanged. Volume reached 974.7 million valued at P6.4 billion from Friday's 1.6 billion worth P7.1 billion. Most active shares were led by Metro Pacific, up 5.81 percent to P5.10; SM Investment Corp., up 3.3 percent to P940; Universal Robina Corp., up 1.59 percent to P140.50 and Ayala Land, down 0.49 percent to P40.80. DMS