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Resource Sector Propels Market Gains, While Banking and Property See Pullbacks

Posted on 2/19/26

Trading on the Philippine Stock Exchange saw a clear divide today, with companies in the mining and resource sectors experiencing significant rallies, while several banking, real estate, and energy firms faced downward pressure. Investor sentiment appeared to favor commodity-linked stocks, potentially buoyed by global demand or local policy expectations, contrasting with cautiousness in other segments.

Top Performers of the Day

Leading the gainers was ALLIANCE SELECT FOODS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (FOOD), whose shares jumped by ₱0.065 or 16.88% to close at ₱0.45. A total of 670,000 shares were traded, amounting to a value of ₱276,550.00. The food sector often attracts investor interest for its defensive qualities or specific company developments.

GLOBAL FERRONICKEL HOLDINGS, INC. (FNI) also posted a strong performance, climbing by ₱0.27, or 13.99%, to settle at ₱2.20. The nickel miner saw 17,230,000 shares change hands, translating to a substantial ₱35,359,200.00 in total value, reflecting continued optimism in the global nickel market.

Coal producer SEMIRARA MINING AND POWER CORPORATION (SCC) was another significant gainer, adding ₱3.05 to its price for a 13.53% increase, closing at ₱25.60. Trading volume was robust at 15,964,400 shares, generating ₱394,848,000.00 in value, as energy prices and demand remain key drivers for the sector.

Conglomerate DMCI HOLDINGS, INC. (DMC), with interests spanning mining and power, rose by ₱0.80, or 9.41%, to ₱9.30. Its shares were actively traded, with 22,541,800 changing hands for a total value of ₱204,959,008.00, suggesting a positive outlook for its diversified portfolio.

ORIENTAL PETROLEUM AND MINERALS CORPORATION "A" (OPM) gained ₱0.001, an 8.33% increase, to close at ₱0.013. A volume of 1,100,000 shares was traded, totaling ₱14,300.00, indicative of speculative interest in the oil and minerals exploration space.

LFM PROPERTIES CORPORATION (LPC) saw its price tick up by ₱0.003, or 8.11%, ending the day at ₱0.04. Trading volume reached 300,000 shares, valued at ₱12,000.00.

NICKEL ASIA CORPORATION (NIKL) also contributed to the mining sector's strong showing, advancing by ₱0.42 or 8.08% to ₱5.62. A considerable 16,695,300 shares were traded, generating ₱91,840,400.00 in value, aligning with the positive sentiment for nickel producers.

Home improvement retailer WILCON DEPOT, INC. (WLCON) rose by ₱0.52 or 7.90%, closing at ₱7.10. Its 8,261,800 traded shares amounted to ₱55,582,700.00, suggesting resilient consumer spending or a positive outlook for the construction materials sector.

BENGUET CORPORATION "B" (BCB), another mining company, increased by ₱0.36 or 6.38%, to close at ₱6.00. Its modest volume of 67,600 shares tallied ₱401,008.00 in total value.

NATIONAL REINSURANCE CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NRCP) completed the list of top gainers, moving up by ₱0.04 or 5.88% to ₱0.72. The company traded 58,000 shares, for a total value of ₱40,570.00.

Leading Decliners

On the other end of the spectrum, PHILIPPINE TRUST COMPANY (PTC) registered the day's steepest drop, plunging by ₱13.95 or 13.68% to settle at ₱88.05. This significant price movement occurred on an extremely low volume of just 10 shares, valued at ₱880.50, which might indicate a block trade or an isolated transaction rather than a broad re-evaluation by the market.

KEPPEL PHILIPPINES PROPERTIES, INC. (KEP) saw its shares decrease by ₱0.38, a 10.56% decline, to ₱3.22. A total of 311,000 shares were traded, amounting to ₱1,014,240.00, amidst a mixed sentiment for the broader real estate sector.

VISTAMALLS, INC. (STR), a retail property developer, also faced headwinds, dropping by ₱0.10 or 8.00% to ₱1.15. Volume stood at 97,000 shares, with a total value of ₱112,100.00.

FERRONOUX HOLDINGS, INC. (FERRO) dipped by ₱0.27, or 6.91%, closing at ₱3.64. The company traded 68,000 shares for a total value of ₱251,030.00.

SUPERCITY REALTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (SRDC) fell by ₱1.00, representing a 5.26% decrease, to ₱18.00. This movement occurred on a small volume of 2,300 shares, valuing ₱39,904.00.

PREMIERE HORIZON ALLIANCE CORPORATION (PHA) lost ₱0.011, a 5.19% decline, to ₱0.201. Its shares traded at 1,150,000 in volume, for a total value of ₱231,340.00.

LORENZO SHIPPING CORPORATION (LSC) dropped by ₱0.03 or 5.08%, closing at ₱0.56. Only 2,000 shares were traded, totaling ₱1,150.00.

APOLLO GLOBAL CAPITAL, INC. (APL), a highly speculative stock, decreased by ₱0.0003 or 4.62% to ₱0.0062. Despite the small price movement, it was one of the most actively traded, with 322,000,000 shares exchanging hands for a total value of ₱2,019,900.00.

Energy giant FIRST GEN CORPORATION (FGEN) declined by ₱0.80, a 4.19% drop, to ₱18.30. Its trading volume reached 1,944,400 shares, valuing ₱36,847,500.00, possibly due to concerns over fuel costs or energy policy.

Finally, XURPAS INC. (X), a technology company, shed ₱0.01 or 4.00% to close at ₱0.24. Its 120,000 shares traded for a total value of ₱28,870.00, as the firm continues to navigate a challenging market.

The day's trading underscored a selective market, where strong performance in resource-based industries was met with notable pullbacks in sectors like banking and certain real estate and energy plays, highlighting a nuanced investment landscape.