Market Highlights: Nihao Leads Surging Miners, Ayala Corp. Drags Blue Chips Lower
Posted on 3/2/26
Philippine equities witnessed a day of diverse movements, with select mining and energy stocks driving significant gains, while holding firms and an airline giant faced downward pressure. The session saw impressive rallies from some companies, alongside notable declines in others, reflecting a mixed investor sentiment across various sectors.
Top Gainers Illuminate the Trading Session
Leading the market's upward charge was NIHAO MINERAL RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NI), which saw its shares skyrocket by 27.91%. The mining firm gained P0.12 to close at P0.55 per share. Trading activity for the miner saw 410,000 shares change hands, amounting to a total value of P212,150.00.
The energy sector also demonstrated strength, with PETRON CORPORATION (PCOR) advancing by 9.61%. The oil refiner's stock added P0.27, settling at P3.08, fueled by a substantial volume of 17,915,000 shares worth P54,071,300.00. Similarly, PXP ENERGY CORPORATION (PXP), involved in oil and gas exploration, climbed 4.06%, adding P0.13 to reach P3.33, with 5,987,000 shares traded for P20,219,900.00. ORIENTAL PETROLEUM AND MINERALS CORPORATION "A" (OPM) also posted an 8.33% gain, rising P0.001 to P0.013, on a volume of 5,400,000 shares valued at P69,700.00.
Elsewhere, DISCOVERY WORLD CORPORATION (DWC), a player in the hospitality and tourism industry, surged 8.49%. Its shares gained P0.09 to close at P1.15, trading 197,000 shares for P220,830.00. Retail giant PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION (SEVN) also posted a healthy 5.15% increase, with its price rising by P1.90 to P38.80, with 462,200 shares amounting to P17,807,900.00 in value. Other notable gainers included PHILCOMSAT HOLDINGS CORPORATION (PHC) up 7.94% to P2.04, PHILIPPINE REALTY AND HOLDINGS CORPORATION (RLT) rising 6.80% to P0.11, TOP LINE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORP. (TOP) climbing 6.45% to P1.65, and LODESTAR INVESTMENT HOLDINGS CORPORATION (LODE) which added 4.11% to finish at P0.38.
Key Losers in a Challenging Session
Conversely, MABUHAY HOLDINGS CORPORATION (MHC) led the decliners, suffering a sharp 23.13% drop. The holding firm's stock shed P0.037 to settle at P0.123, with 50,000 shares traded for P6,150.00.
In the mining sector, while some exploration companies rallied, others faced significant setbacks. GLOBAL FERRONICKEL HOLDINGS, INC. (FNI) saw its shares fall by 9.66%, losing P0.23 to close at P2.15, on a substantial volume of 7,789,000 shares valued at P16,959,000.00. GEOGRACE RESOURCES PHILIPPINES, INC. (GEO) also dipped by 9.38%, down P0.009 to P0.087, trading 30,000 shares for P2,610.00. IMPERIAL RESOURCES, INC. (IMP) recorded a 15.24% decline, shedding P0.16 to finish at P0.89 with a volume of 31,000 shares totaling P27,630.00.
The airline industry also experienced turbulence, with CEBU AIR, INC. (CEB) dropping 6.73%. The carrier's shares fell P2.55 to P35.35, with 639,100 shares exchanged for a total value of P22,601,100.00, possibly influenced by rising fuel costs or tempered travel demand outlook. Adding to the day's contrasts, PETRON CORPORATION NON-VOTING PERPETUAL SERIES 4E PREFERRED SHARES (PRF4E) plummeted 6.84%, losing P73.00 to close at P995.00, despite its common shares registering gains.
Blue-chip AYALA CORPORATION (AC) also contributed to the negative sentiment among larger firms, shedding 6.17%. Its stock declined by P37.00 to P563.00, with 513,570 shares traded for a significant P292,616,000.00. Other companies facing losses included SUPERCITY REALTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (SRDC) down 7.32% to P19.00, CITYSTATE SAVINGS BANK, INC. (CSB) falling 6.76% to P14.90, and APC GROUP, INC. (APC) which dropped 6.19% to P0.106.
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