Manila: The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended the week on a positive note still due to the recent upgrade of the Philippines to an upper-middle income economy. The main index rose for the third consecutive session to 6,188.03 points, up by 1.02 percent, and the broader All Shares by 0.83 percent to 3,370.94 points. Most of the sectoral gauges also jumped, led by the Mining and Oil after it rose 4.38 percent. It was trailed by the Holding Firms, 2.27 percent; Property, 1.29 percent; Financials, 1.22 percent and the Services, 0.32 percent. Only the Industrial index slipped during the day and declined 0.05 percent. Volume reached 1.1 billion shares amounting to PHP4.44 billion. Advancers led decliners at 108 to 64 while 67 shares were unchanged.

According to Philippines News Agency, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort, in a report, said the recent decision of the World Bank to elevate the domestic economy's status 'could somewhat help increase investments and credit into the country at better terms,' thus, further lifting sentiments in the local equities market. He cited as another positive factor the decline in the global crude oil prices to its 'lowest in more than four months or since February 27, 2026 and erased almost all of their increase since the war on Iran/Middle East started on February 28, 2026 (leading indicator and bright spot for the global and local financial markets).'

This, he said, also benefited the local currency, which finished the week at 61.41 against the U.S. dollar, from its 61.56 finish Thursday. It opened the day at 61.39, better than its 61.6 start in the previous session. It traded between 61.49 and 61.38, resulting to an average of 61.42. Volume reached USD1.6 billion, up from the previous day's USD1.27 billion.