Philippine stock index rises 1% to 6,615.58

Philippine stock index rises 1% to 6,615.58

Philippine Stock Index Rises 1% to 6,615.58 Amid Easing Economic Pressures

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed 1% to 6,615.58 on February 24, 2026, marking a rebound after weeks of volatility driven by economic challenges and political uncertainties. The upward movement followed improved market sentiment, with analysts attributing the gain to stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and cautious optimism about government-led recovery efforts according to Business Times.

The index's recent performance contrasts with earlier declines, including a 1.5% drop in late January 2026, when weaker-than-anticipated Q4 2025 GDP growth—expanding 3% year-on-year, below the projected 3.8%—spooked investors as reported by Trading Economics. The slowdown was attributed to a high-profile infrastructure corruption scandal, typhoon disruptions, and trade pressures. However, the government has signaled higher public spending, easing inflation (1.7% in October 2025), and potential rate cuts as tools to stimulate growth according to Trading Economics.

Key heavyweight stocks contributed to the February 24 rally, with International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) and BDO Unibank showing modest gains after earlier declines of 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively, in late January according to Trading Economics. Meanwhile, the Philippine peso stabilized at 58.50 per U.S. dollar, recovering from a one-month low of 58.83 per dollar earlier in February according to Trading Economics.

Despite the recent rebound, the PSEi remains below its January 2026 high of 6,543.35 and faces headwinds. The index hit a three-year low of 5,759 in late January amid concerns over Q3 2025 GDP growth (4.4% yoy) and ongoing corruption investigations according to Trading Economics. Analysts caution that while the market's 8.3% year-to-date gain in dollar terms suggests resilience, risks from global market corrections and domestic political issues persist according to Business Times.

Looking ahead, the PSEi is projected to trade at 6,201.36 by the end of Q1 2026, according to Trading Economics models, with long-term forecasts pointing to 5,643.57 in 12 months according to Trading Economics. Investors will closely watch February's GDP data and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' policy decisions for further direction.

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