The Week In Review: Mining and Industrials Lead Gains Amid Mixed Market Sentiment (January 3-7)
Posted on 1/4/26
The trading period from Friday, January 3rd, to Tuesday, January 7th, concluded with a notable surge in the mining and industrial sectors, counterbalanced by a more subdued performance in property and financial stocks. While the market digested news of potential central bank rate cuts later in the quarter, providing a boost to sentiment, a lingering probe into major infrastructure projects introduced a layer of uncertainty. Overall, the short trading week showcased significant volatility, particularly among smaller-cap issues, as investors repositioned for the coming year.
Leading the pack of significant movers was Supercity Realty Development Corporation (SRDC), which saw an astounding appreciation. Starting the period on January 3rd with P6.07, the stock settled with P13.64 by January 7th, marking a remarkable gain of over 124%. It had peaked at P9.1 on January 3rd, indicating robust early-week buying. Following this impressive rally, VISTA LAND & LIFESCAPES, INC. (VLL) also posted strong numbers, starting at P0.93 and climbing to P1.22 by the close of January 7th. Its highest point for the period was observed at P1.22 on January 7th, reflecting renewed interest in the property sector, possibly in anticipation of the aforementioned rate cuts.
The industrial and mining sectors also demonstrated strong upward momentum. PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY (PTC) started the period at P100.0 and impressively settled with P120.0, peaking at this price on January 3rd. SEAFRONT RESOURCES CORPORATION (SPM), a resource play, began at P1.91 and finished at P2.32, experiencing its highest point at P2.36 on January 3rd. Further bolstering the mining contingent, ATLAS CONSOLIDATED MINING AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (AT) started its observed period on January 7th at P5.8 and settled at P6.5, peaking at P6.5 on the same day. GLOBAL FERRONICKEL HOLDINGS, INC. (FNI) and NICKEL ASIA CORPORATION (NIKL) similarly saw healthy gains, signaling strong demand for commodities.
On the downside, some key players faced significant pressure. MEDCO HOLDINGS, INC. (MED) started on January 3rd with P0.101 but settled sharply lower at P0.094. Its lowest point for the period was a concerning P0.09, also on January 3rd, reflecting investor caution. CEBU AIR, INC. (CEB) also experienced turbulence, starting at P33.95 and settling with P32.25. The airline sector faced headwinds, possibly due to rising fuel costs or concerns over a seasonal slowdown in tourism following recent typhoon warnings in parts of the archipelago.
Other significant decliners included PHILIPPINE SAVINGS BANK (PSB), which started at P57.95 and closed at P55.0, with its lowest point at P54.0 on January 3rd, suggesting that financial stocks had a mixed reaction to the central bank's rate cut signals. CTS GLOBAL EQUITY GROUP, INC. (CTS) also registered a drop, starting at P0.39 and ending at P0.38, after hitting its lowest point at P0.36 on January 3rd. Similarly, UNITED PARAGON MINING CORPORATION (UPM) saw its price decrease, starting at P0.0057 and settling with P0.0054 on January 7th, with this price also marking its lowest point during the period.
Several stocks demonstrated considerable volatility or ended the period with marginal changes despite intra-period swings. PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. (PRIM) started on January 3rd at P1.11 and ended at P1.16, yet it peaked at P1.3 on January 3rd, illustrating sharp movements. HAUS TALK, INC. (HTI) remained stable, starting and ending at P1.06 on January 7th, although data indicated an intra-period loss of 3.6%. SHELL PILIPINAS CORPORATION (SHLPH) also saw a slight uptick from P6.32 to P6.56, with its highest point at P6.56 on January 7th, despite some recorded volatility.
As the market looks ahead, the upcoming central bank policy meeting and further clarity on the infrastructure development agenda are expected to significantly influence trading in the coming days. Investors will be keenly watching for signs of sustained economic growth and any resolution to the ongoing infrastructure probes, which could either solidify the recent gains in construction and property or deepen the downturn in affected sectors. The resilience shown by mining stocks this period, fueled by global commodity trends, suggests a potential area of strength moving forward.
