Thursday, October 07, 2010

Stocks breach 4,200-mark

MANILA, Philippines - Stocks advanced for the second session in a row Thursday, breaching the 4,200-mark, on rosy economic outlook.

The key Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 1.1% or 48.46 points to a record high of 4,245.05.

The broader all-share index climbed 1.4% or 35.91 points to 2,676.

Except for the mining and oil sector, all subindices finished in positive territory.

But market breadth was negative as decliners beat advancers, 72 to 57. There were 51 issues unchanged.

Value turnover came in at P5 billion.

Traders said the International Monetary Fund's upward revision for its growth forecast for the Philippines boosted investor sentiment.

Expectations of robust second-half corporate earnings also spurred buying.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. was the most actively traded stock by value, adding 1.2% to P2,760. This brings the stock's total gains to 4.1% in the last 3 trading sessions.

Second most active was SM Investments Corp., which picked up 1.1% to P535. SM said it would issue $400 million of new 2017 bonds, including $213.7 million in an exchange for shorter-dated bonds to lengthen its maturity profile.

Third most active was Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. It rose 2.2% to P75 on net foreign buying.

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