The stock market slipped Tuesday in mixed trading, with some investors cashing in on gains registered in the previous session
The Philippine Stock exchange Index fell 51.44 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,886.91 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Losers beat gainers, 117 to 77, with 59 issues unchanged.
PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, dropped 3.8 percent to P1,105, while Jollibee Foods corp., the largest fast-food chain, also declined 3.8 percent to P225.20.
Filinvest Land Inc. of the Gotianun Group, however, rose 3 percent to P1.72, while Kepwealth Property Philippines Inc. again jumped 50 percent to P12.22 after surging 42 percent Monday in its market debut to P8.15 from the initial public offering price of P5.74.
Meanwhile, most Asian markets rose Tuesday on the back of hopes for central bank and government stimulus measures around the world, while investors were also cheered by further signs of easing tensions in the China-US trade war.
Tokyo ended up 0.6 percent, while Sydney, Seoul and Wellington each jumped around percent. Taipei and Jakarta were also higher.
But Hong Kong slipped 0.2 percent on profit-taking after a four-day rally, while Shanghai ended 0.1 percent lower. Mumbai and Bangkok were also lower.
Trading floors have been tense for several weeks owing to concerns about a number of factors including the trade war, Brexit, a global economic slowdown and tensions in the Middle East.
However, while markets remain on edge, equities have enjoyed a positive start to the week, with Germany reportedly planning government support to avert a recession in Europe’s biggest economy and central banks elsewhere looking to ease monetary policy.
Among the key events this week is a speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell at the annual Jackson Hole symposium of central bankers in Wyoming.
His remarks will be pored over to see if he hints at another interest rate cut following last month’s move, and if so how deep it will be. However, some analysts have pointed out that while the US economy is showing signs of slowing, it remains healthy and Powell could decide no new help is needed just yet.
The Fed policy board “did not unanimously agree to the last 0.25 percent cut,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia-Pacific at OANDA.
“US economic data continues to perform blissfully, implying the economy is doing just fine,” he said.
“Against that backdrop, I struggle to see why… Powell would hit the panic button at Jackson Hole this week. The financial markets could be setting themselves up for an ugly correction into the week’s end.”
A report in The Washington Post said top officials are considering measures to head off a US downturn, including temporarily cutting the payroll tax to increase workers’ monthly take-home pay. Another move being looked at is reversing new tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, The New York Times reported.
The White House’s decision to delay again by 90 days a ban on US firms doing business with Huawei was taken as a conciliatory move towards China and provided hope. With AFP
