Share prices ended the week in the green on renewed optimism for the domestic economy after the government committed to increase spending to boost growth.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) jumped 53.11 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 6,022.25. The broader all shares index rose 30.23 points, or 0.85 percent, to 3,568.34.
The peso closed stronger Friday at 58.645 against the U.S. dollar, up from 58.76 on Thursday.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the PSEi also posted gains after dovish signals from local monetary authorities, which could reduce borrowing costs.
Likewise, declining global crude prices boosted hopes that the inflation rate will remain within the government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent.
All sectors advanced, led by the mining and oil index, which rose 4 percent.
Value turnover amounted to P5.19 billion, lower than the year-to-date average of P5.92 billion. Gainers edged losers 115 to 68.
Foreign investors were net sellers, with an outflow of P781.70 million.
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. was the day’s top gainer, climbing 4.56 percent to P15.60. Alliance Global Group Inc. was at the bottom, declining by 2.63 percent to P7.03.
Most Asian markets squeezed out gains Friday at the end of a strong week for equities fueled by growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again next month.
Traders took silence from New York’s Thanksgiving break as a reason to have a breather and take stock of a healthy rebound from November’s swoon that was sparked by AI bubble fears.
But while there is much debate on whether valuations in the tech sector are overstretched, focus this week has been firmly on the prospect of more rate cuts.
A string of top Fed officials have lined up to back a third straight reduction, mostly saying that worries over a weakening labour market trumped still elevated inflation.
Attention now turns to a range of data releases over the next week or so that could play a role in the bank’s final decision, with private hiring, services activity and personal consumption expenditure — the Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation.
With the government shutdown postponing or cancelling the release of some key data, closely watched non-farm payrolls figures are now due in mid-December, after the Fed’s policy decision.
“This delay places much greater scrutiny on the latest November ADP (private) payrolls report,” wrote Market Insights’ Michael Hewson. He said there would likely be a Thanksgiving-linked spike in hiring “that is not entirely representative of recent slower trends in the US labour market”.
“While a big jump in payrolls in November could be construed as a positive signal for the US labour market it might not be enough to stop the Fed from cutting rates again with another close decision expected on 10th December,” he added.
Markets see around an 85 percent chance of a cut next month and three more in 2026.
With no catalyst from New York, Asian investor excitement was limited but most markets managed to rise.
Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Manila, Mumbai and Bangkok all advanced, though Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul and Jakarta reversed.
London, Paris and Frankfurt rose at the open.
The yen swung against the dollar after data showed inflation in Tokyo, seen as a bellwether for Japan, came in a little higher than expected, reigniting talk on whether the central bank will hike interest rates in the coming months.
The Japanese unit remains under pressure against the greenback amid concerns about Japan’s fiscal outlook and pledges for more borrowing, but it has pulled back from the levels near 158 per dollar seen earlier this week. With AFP
