Stocks rebounded Friday ahead of closely watched US jobs data which could determine the next policy move by the Federal Reserve.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 8,117.94, the highest in more than five months.
The broader all-share index also advanced 13 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,945.68 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 116 to 80, while 53 issues were unchanged.
Eleven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by First Philippine Holdings Corp. which climbed 4 percent to P91.65 after announcing a massive buyback program. Food manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. rose 2.3 percent to P176, while sister firm Robinsons Land Corp. went up 1.9 percent to P27.
Meanwhile, Asian markets fluctuated Friday as investors steeled themselves for the release of a crucial US jobs report that could have a major bearing on the size of an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
With uncertainty over the China-US trade row put aside for now, this week has been dominated by speculation about the US central bank’s plans to address a weakening economic outlook, both at home and globally.
The jobs report is a closely watched gauge of the state of the world’s biggest economy and a below-forecast reading would ramp up hopes the Fed will announce a 50-basis-point reduction.
“Today’s US payrolls report has the potential to upset the apple cart when it comes to whether or not we can expect to see a Fed rate cut later this month, and if we do whether it will be 25 or 50 basis points,” said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.
And Pepperstone Group head of research Chris Weston said that “a number in line with consensus probably delivers that July cut and I think that’s what the market wants to see”.
“If we get a really strong number, I think risk could really come off the table,” he told Bloomberg News.
The clamour for a Fed rate cut comes as central banks around the world take a more accommodative position to offset economic weakness blamed on trade uncertainty, particularly the China-US standoff.
Equities swung back and forth ahead of the jobs release, with most markets bouncing back from morning losses.
Tokyo and Shanghai each closed 0.2 percent higher while Hong Kong was flat in the afternoon.
Taipei and Seoul both finished 0.1 percent higher while Sydney, Wellington, Manila and Bangkok were also in positive territory. But Singapore, Mumbai and Jakarta edged down.
In early trade London, Paris and Frankfurt all dipped 0.1 percent.
Adding to the cautious trading environment was the lack of a lead from Wall Street, which was closed for the Independence Day celebrations.
“If there is one thing financial markets hate it’s a delicate balance between risk-on and off, suggesting something will give shortly,” said Stephen Innes at Vanguard Markets.
“Over the short run, ‘risk-on’ sentiment should prevail on the back of the deluge on central banks easing. The Fed is critical to the ‘risk-on’ fever,” he said, adding that “now is the time to shift easing policy into high gear."
Oil prices edged down as traders fret over the impact of weak global growth on demand, which is overshadowing this week’s agreement by Opec and Russia to extend their output caps.
Even the US-Iran crisis has been unable to perk up the commodity, with news that Britain had intercepted an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar — suspected of carrying crude to Syria — providing only a little support. With AFP