Stocks lower at close of first quarter trading

March 28, 2018

Stocks ended lower on the final day of trading for the first quarter on Wednesday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index finished at 7,979.83, down 67.20. In the broader market, there were 113 gainers, 83 decliners and 54 shares unchanged.

Volume reached 1.7 billion shares worth P7.8 billion from Tuesday's 2.92 billion valued at P6.55 billion.Foreigners were net sellers with P5.55 billion while buying reached P4.43 billion.

Most actively traded shares were Ayala Land, unchanged at P41.10; Robinsons Retail, down 0.67 percent to P89.30; Ayala Corp., down 0.11 percent to P948 and SM Prime, down 2.32 percent to P33.70.

The peso closed at P52.16 against the US dollar from P52.32. Volume at the Philippine Dealing System reached $878.50 million from $718.90 million. DMS