Stocks extend slide before Fed, tariff deadline

Philippine shares on Wednesday extended their losing streak to a fifth straight session as investors stayed on the sidelines before the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision overnight and the Trump administration’s Aug. 1 tariff deadline.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 0.11% or 7.19 points to close at 6,381.23, while the broader all shares index fell by 0.09% or 3.49 points to 3,776.59.

“The local market declined for a fifth straight day as investors take a cautious stance while dealing with global trade uncertainties as the US’ Aug. 1 tariff negotiations deadline draws near,” Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Investors are also waiting for clues on the Fed’s policy outlook.”

“The PSEi slid down as investors are still watching if there would be still further developments on the upcoming tariff deadline on Aug. 1,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. “Moreover, companies are still releasing earnings reports, and this will probably remain as one of the sentiment drivers of the market for the next few weeks.”

The Fed was set to conclude its two-day meeting overnight, where it was widely expected to keep rates unchanged but provide clues on its policy path moving forward.

Meanwhile, ahead of US President Donald J. Trump’s deadline to reach a deal to avert “Liberation Day” tariffs, some countries’ talks with the US looked set to go down to the wire, Reuters reported.

US and Chinese officials agreed to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce on Tuesday, though no major breakthroughs were announced.

US officials said it was up to Mr. Trump to decide whether to extend a trade truce that expires on Aug. 12 or potentially let tariffs shoot back up to triple-digits.

Meanwhile, three South Korean cabinet-level officials met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a last-ditch push for a deal.

Most sectoral indices closed lower on Wednesday. Financials sank by 0.58% or 13.18 points to 2,223.13; holding firms declined by 0.33% or 17.97 points to 5,385.81; mining and oil retreated by 0.13% or 11.87 points to 9,082; and services went down by 0.11% or 2.45 points to 2,221.94.

Meanwhile, property increased by 0.6% or 14.17 points to 2,373.59 and industrials climbed by 0.28% or 26.06 points to 9,123.03.

“Ayala Land, Inc. was the day’s index leader, climbing 2.38% to P25.80. Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. was at the tail end, falling 3.14% to P17.90,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover dropped to PHP 4.66 billion on Wednesday with 800.01 million shares traded from the PHP 6.86 billion with 1.04 billion shares exchanged on Tuesday.

Decliners beat advancers, 95 versus 87, while 62 names were unchanged.

Net foreign selling went down to PHP 57.49 million on Wednesday from PHP 429.15 million on Tuesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave with Reuters