Stocks lower, peso at P52.03:$1

March 8, 2018

Stocks ended lower on Thursday, a day after breaking a series of declines.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index closed at 8,381.85, down 22.84 points. In the broader market, there were 118 gainers, 85 decliners and 61 unchanged.

Volume amounted to 1.99 billion shares worth P5.83 billion from Wednesday's 2.42 billion valued at P8.6 billion. Foreigners were net sellers, unloading  P2.64 billion and buying P1.93 billion.

Most actively traded shares were led by Now Corp., down 10.1 percent to P13.70; Ayala Land, up 0.12 percent to P41.50; PLDT, up 2.3 percent to P1560 and Bank of the Philippine Islands,unchanged at P117.80.

The peso closed at P52.03 against the US dollar from P51.98. Volume at the Philippine Dealing System reached $453.70 million from Wednesday's $692.25 million. DMS