Share prices closed lower Monday on risk aversion after a spark of violence in the Middle East over the weekend.
The peso closed lower.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 7.79 points, a 0.12 percent drop to 6,252.16.
The broader All Shares index was up 0.78 of a point or 0.02 percent to 3,380.05.
Gainers edged losers 94 to 86 with 56 stocks unchanged. Trading turnover reached P5.71 billion.
The peso closed at 56.95 to the dollar, down from 56.62 on Friday.
The currency opened at 56.75, an intraday high and hit a low of 56.98. Trading turnover reached $1.25 billion.
Most Asian emerging market currencies retreated on Monday, as the dollar strengthened on uncertainty over weekend conflict in the Middle East that pushed up oil prices while strong US jobs boosted prospects for interest rates to stay higher for longer.
Investors were risk-averse after Israel pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday.
Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the Israel-Hamas war over the weekend partly weighed on global market sentiment amid geopolitical risks that could involve Iran, which is a major global oil producer and finances/supports Hamas.
Most actively traded Aboitiz Power Corp. was up P1.20 to P35.70. ACEN Corp. was up P0.16 to P5.38. GT Capital Holdings Inc. was down P10 to P560. SM Prime Holdings Inc. was down P0.15 to P30.55. Metropolian Bank and Trust Co. was down P0.30 to P51.90. BDO Unibank Inc. was down P0.50 to P249.20. SM Investments Corp. was down P3 to P830.
Ayala Corp. was down P4.50 to P616. PLDT Inc. was up P17 to P1,220. Jollibee Foods Corp. was down P2 to P219.
