PSE index falls 9.71 percent, peso loses ground vs US dollar

March 12, 2020

The main Philippine share index slumped on Thursday, due to regional weaknesss due to the threat of the coronavirus diseases 2019.

The peso lost 30 centavos to end at P50.85 against the US dollar. Volume at the foreign exchange portal of the Bankers Association of the Philippines reached $1.375 billion from $934 million. 

The Philippine Stock Exchange ( PSE) index slid more than 10 percent at 2:53 pm, triggering a halt in trading. Trading resumed at 3:08 pm, 22 minutes before transactions for the day ended.

The PSE index finished at 5,736.27 points, down 616.99 points. This represented a loss of 9.71 percent compared to the index's 10.3 percent decline when trading was stopped.

In the broader market, there were 226 losers, seven gainers and 25 unchanged.

Volume reached 981.13 million shares worth P7.96 billion from Thursday's 687.59 million valued at P6.62 billion.

Most active shares were SM Investment Corp., down P110 to P790; Ayala Land, down P4.30 to P33.90 and BDO, down P16 to P120. DMS