The Philippine Stock Exchange index was down 38.63 points or by 0.57 percent to 6,749.28 on profit-taking.
The broader all shares index was down 20.63 points or by 0.51 percent to 4,043.69.
Losers edged gainers 129 to 69 with 46 stocks unchanged. Trading turnover reached P6.52 billion.
The peso closed at 50.63 to the dollar, up from 50.97 on Friday.
The currency opened at 51.02, hit a high of 51.095 and a low of 50.63. Trading turnover reached $1.47 billion.
“Investors decided to begin the month with more profit taking due to worsening fears on the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy,” said Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp.
Limlingan said COVID-19 “has spread to 60 countries and confirmed cases outside of mainland China jumped to over 7,000,” as of last count.
Most actively traded Ayala Corp. was down P13 to P649.50. BDO Unibank Inc. was down P6.90 to P132.10. SM Investments Corp. was down P14.50 to P966. SM Prime Holdings Inc. was up P0.40 to P38.70. Ayala Land Inc. was up P0.80 to P39.80. Bank of the Philippine Islands was up P1.40 to P75.50. JG Summit Holdings Inc. was down P1 to P66.50. International Container Terminal Services Inc. was steady at P106. Universal Robina Corp. was down P2.70 to P138.60.
