Philippine stocks finish 0.4% up on volatile trading

James Ryan Jonas

The Philippine composite index closed yesterday higher by 15.84 points or 0.4% at 3,774.81.

Investors, returning from a four-day break last week, remained on the sidelines weighing issues such as inflation and the continuing concerns in the US economy amid rising oil prices.

But hopes that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank) will soon cut key interest rates in response to the US Federal Reserve rate cut supported the market.

On Wednesday last week, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by 25 basis points, but said inflation remained a concern, which analysts took as a signal that the Fed will temporarily defer further rate cuts.

Here are the top 10 gainers and losers in the Philippine stock market yesterday (November 5, 2007).

Top 10 Gainers

  1. PREMIERE ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS, INC. (PEP) – 0.87 ; 17.57%
  2. AJO.NET HOLDINGS, INC. (AJO) – 0.155 ; 6.9%
  3. BANKARD, INC. (BKD) – 2.12 ; 6.00%
  4. MUSIC SEMICONDUCTORS CORPORATION (MUSX) – 1.34 ; 4.69%
  5. REPUBLIC CEMENT CORPORATION (RCM) – 4.60 ; 4.55%
  6. AYALA CORPORATION (AC) – 645.00 ; 4.03%
  7. METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORPORATION – WARRANTS (MPIW) – 4.00 ; 3.9%
  8. UNIWIDE HOLDINGS, INC. (UW) – 0.27 ; 3.85%
  9. IVANTAGE CORPORATION (V) – 1.62 ; 3.85%
  10. BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (BPI) – 68.00 ; 3.82%

Top 10 Losers

  1. MEDCO HOLDINGS, INC. (MED) – 0.37 ; (38.33%)
  2. DIZON COPPER-SILVER MINES, INC. (DIZ) – 10.00 ; (9.09%)
  3. TKC STEEL CORPORATION (T) – 15.25 ; (8.96%)
  4. DMCI HOLDINGS, INC. (DMC) – 11.00 ; (8.33%)
  5. OMICO CORPORATION (OM) – 0.013 ; (7.14%)
  6. CITISECONLINE.COM, INC. (COL) – 13.75 ; (6.78%)
  7. I-REMIT, INC. (I) – 5.20 ; (5.45%)
  8. WELLEX INDUSTRIES, INC. (WIN) – 0.35 ; (5.41%)
  9. GEOGRACE REOURCES PHILIPPINES, INC. (GEO) – 2.46 ; (5.38%)
  10. FIL-ESTATE LAND, INC. (LND) – 1.06 ; (5.36%)

Legend: STOCK NAME (CODE) – Last Traded Price ; % Change

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James Ryan Jonas teaches business management, investments, and entrepreneurship at the University of the Philippines (UP). He is also the Executive Director of UP Provident Fund Inc., managing and investing P3.2 Billion ($56.4 Million) worth of retirement funds on behalf of thousands of UP employees.