The stock market closed nearly flat Tuesday on another thin trading, with many many investors waiting for a catalyst to push the benchmark index higher.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 7.14 points or 0.1 percent, to 7,156.07 on a value turnover of nearly P4.2 billion. Gainers edged losers, 88 to 82, with 57 issues unchanged.
BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 1.7 percent to P133.40, while fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. rose 1.2 percent to P29.30.
Globe Telecom Inc., the second-largest telecommunications firm, however, fell 3.1 percent to P2,420, while casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. dropped 3 percent to P6.18.
Meanwhile, oil prices extended gains Tuesday on the prospect of further sanctions on Russia for alleged “atrocities” in some occupied Ukrainian cities, while equities edged up after a rally in New York and Europe.
Trade was tepid in Asia, with Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei closed for holidays but most markets rose.
Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington were slightly up, though Mumbai dropped.
European Union officials were discussing new measures against Moscow after reports—denied by the Kremlin—that troops had executed civilians.
Among the punishments could be a ban on imports of Russian crude, following a similar move by the United States and Britain.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also signaled more US sanctions were on the way this week.
While Europe’s economy—particularly Germany’s—relies heavily on energy from Russia, the possibility of an embargo sent both main contracts sharply higher Monday, and they continued their rise in Asia, putting on more than one percent.
That pared some of the sharp losses seen Friday in reaction to a pledge by Washington and other major economies to unleash millions of barrels from their stockpiles to keep a lid on prices, which are fanning already high inflation.
It also offset an expected hit to demand in China from lockdowns in parts of the country—including Shanghai, the biggest city—sparked by a wave of Omicron outbreaks.
“In the wake of ‘Russian atrocities’ claims and the ensuing public outrage, there is a strong chance we could see another layer of sanctions on Russian energy,” said SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes.
“The receptiveness on the part of Europe (including Germany) to refrain from importing Russian gas has put a bid under and should keep energy prices supported.”
The continued uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine, and the blow to the global economy it is expected to deal, was unable to prevent another healthy performance on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq’s surge led all three main indexes higher.
“Despite all the concerns, equities remain the best bet to achieve returns above today’s elevated inflation,” said markets strategist Louis Navellier. With AFP