by Kris Crismundo/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine peso ended sideways against the US dollar while the local stock market slipped during the last day of trading for 2018.
The peso ended Friday at 52.58 from previous day’s closing of 52.66 to the greenback.
It opened the day stronger at 52.65 from Thursday’s kick off at 52.9 to a dollar.
The currency pair traded between 52.52 and 52.65, bringing the average level for the day at 52.56.
Volume of trade was lower this day amounting to only USD664.4 million from last day’s USD807.45 million.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) recorded a 0.22-percent decline on Friday ending the year at 7,466.02 points.
But all shares slightly gained by 0.08 percent to 4,517.85 points.
Half of the counters closed the year in green territories led by financials, which grew by 0.70 percent to 1,779.85 points; followed by services, up by 0.50 percent to 1,442.71 points; and property, up by 0.01 percent to 3,627.98 points.
Sectors of industrial, mining and oil, and holding firms closed the year with below-one-percent decline to 10,951.36 points, 8,200.50 points, and 7,341.81 points, respectively.
Gainers advanced losers at 118 to 81, with 48 left unchanged.
At the start of 2018, the peso-dollar rate was at 49.81, while PSEi finished at 8,724.13 points.
