The Week In Review: Navigating a Week of Contrasts: Market Witnesses Robust Gains and Sharp Declines Amidst Economic Shifts
Posted on 1/18/26
The trading week commencing Monday, January 12, 2026, proved to be a period of stark contrasts for local equities, with impressive gains for some counters juxtaposed against significant corrections for others. Investors carefully navigated a landscape shaped by recent economic announcements, including the central bank's indication of potential rate adjustments and ongoing discussions surrounding national infrastructure development. This dynamic environment fueled targeted buying in growth sectors while prompting caution in more volatile segments, reflecting a nuanced market sentiment across the board.
Leading the charge among this week's top performers were retail and holding companies, signaling robust consumer confidence and a potential rebound in property-related ventures. AllDay Marts, Inc. (ALLDY) started the week with P0.034 and saw an astounding max gain of 47.05882%, peaking at P0.05 on January 15, settling with P0.05 at the end. Similarly, AllHome Corp. (HOME) began at P0.27 and recorded a remarkable 37.03703% max gain, peaking at P0.37 on January 15 and closing at that price. IPM Holdings, Inc. (IPM), a diversified holding firm, also surged, starting at P1.60 and hitting its peak at P2.19 on January 14 for a 36.875% max gain, ultimately closing at P2.19. These performances underscore investor optimism in the domestic consumption story, further bolstered by positive GDP growth forecasts for the coming quarters.
Beyond the retail sector, other key players delivered strong returns, reflecting strategic sector-specific tailwinds. Vivant Corporation (VVT), for instance, started the week with P19.44 and posted a 13.16872% max gain, peaking at P22.00 on January 13 and settling with P22.00. Top Frontier Investment Holdings, Inc. (TFHI) also experienced a significant uptick, starting at P64.25 and enjoying a 21.40078% max gain, reaching P78.00 on January 14 and ending the week there. Philippine National Bank (PNB) demonstrated resilience in the financial sector, commencing at P58.60 and peaking at P62.20 on January 14 for a 6.14335% max gain, settling with P62.15. This buoyancy in the banking sector can be partly attributed to market anticipation of potential central bank rate cuts, which could stimulate lending and economic activity. Meanwhile, Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SHLPH) started at P9.38 and peaked at P10.28 on January 15 for a 9.59488% max gain, settling with P10.28, reflecting stable oil prices.
On the flip side, several companies faced considerable headwinds, enduring sharp declines that underscored prevailing market vulnerabilities and specific corporate challenges. Supercity Realty Development Corporation (SRDC) recorded the week's steepest percentage loss, plummeting by 25.17172% on January 12 to hit P18.52, after starting at P24.75, eventually settling with P23.75. Philippine Comsat Holdings Corporation (PHC) also saw significant erosion, starting at P1.77 and experiencing its lowest day of the week on January 14, with a 12.42938% max loss, closing at P1.55. Keppel Philippines Properties, Inc. (KEP) struggled, beginning at P2.73 and enduring a 12.08791% max loss, settling with P2.40 on January 15. The pronounced downturns in these property-related entities and broader holdings could be linked to ongoing government probes into infrastructure projects, creating uncertainty among investors regarding future development pipelines and potentially tightening regulatory scrutiny.
Further illustrating the week's mixed performance, other notable companies also registered significant retreats. Citystate Savings Bank, Inc. (CSB), for instance, started at P15.90 and experienced its lowest day of the week on January 12 at P14.86, for a 6.54088% max loss, settling with P14.94 at week's close. This suggests a varied impact of the central bank's monetary policy discussions across different financial institutions. Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) saw a considerable 14.28571% max loss, dropping to P6.00 on January 13 after starting at P7.00, settling with P6.75, perhaps reflecting shifts in media consumption or advertising revenues. Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. (INFRA), directly associated with infrastructure, posted a 4.05406% max loss on January 15, settling at P0.355 from an initial P0.37, highlighting specific pressures in that sector amidst the aforementioned regulatory reviews.
The mining sector presented a particularly volatile picture, influenced by fluctuating global commodity prices and domestic operational updates. While Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (AT) showed strength, starting at P7.19 and peaking at P7.65 on January 13 for a 6.39778% max gain, other players faced tougher trading. Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (FNI) started at P1.88, peaked at P1.94 on January 12 with a 3.19149% max gain, but ultimately settled lower at P1.79, having experienced its lowest day of the week on January 15 with a 4.78724% max loss. Similarly, Geograce Resources Philippines, Inc. (GEO) opened at P0.119, peaked at P0.125 on January 12 for a 5.04201% max gain, but settled lower at P0.116. This divergent performance within the mining sector suggests that individual company specific news and broader commodity market dynamics are playing significant roles.
As the week closed on January 16, 2026, the market concluded with a noticeable dichotomy, showcasing both robust growth stories driven by domestic demand and infrastructure development aspirations, and sharp corrections stemming from regulatory uncertainties and sector-specific challenges. The central bank's cautious but optimistic tone regarding inflation and economic growth, coupled with the government's continued push for infrastructure projects, albeit with increased scrutiny, are expected to remain pivotal factors influencing investor decisions in the near term. Market participants will likely continue to seek value in companies demonstrating strong fundamentals and adaptability in the face of evolving economic conditions.
