Philippine share prices closed 1.02 percent higher on Tuesday as investors took positions in stocks that are expected to do better next year, dealers said. They said local investors shrugged off the impact of Sunday's devastating earthquake and tidal waves, which have left around 24,700 people dead and massive damage to fragile economies in South and Southeast Asia.
In the first day of trading since the weekend, telecommunication, financial and mining stocks were investor favourites, helping to push the benchmark index to its highest level in almost four weeks.
The market was closed on Monday for a public holiday.
The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index gained 18.49 points to 1,825.98, after trading between 1,807.49 and 1,835.96.
Volume totalled 722.1 million shares worth 772.6 million pesos (13.73 million dollars), from 1.38 billion shares worth 626.96 million pesos on Thursday, the last trading day from last week.
The broader all-shares index rose 3.66 points to 1,153.86.
Gainers led losers 34 to 33, with 34 stocks unchanged.
"Gains in blue chips led by PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone) pushed the market higher, with investors positioning themselves ahead of the New Year," Lawrence de Leon of Accord Capital Equities said.
"These stocks are good bargains at current prices and are expected to perform better in 2005," he said. "We may see further gains tomorrow, although I don't expect it to be as strong as today," he added.
PLDT was the most actively traded stock, ending up 45 pesos at 1,365 pesos.
PLDT unit Pilipino Telephone Corp rose 15 centavos to 2.65 pesos.
Globe Telecom rose 10 pesos to 970.
Bank of the Philippine Islands was up one peso at 52.50, while Banco de Oro was up 1.50 pesos at 28.
Ayala Corp gained 20 centavos to 6.70 pesos, but unit Ayala Land was unchanged at 7.10 pesos.
Shopping mall operator SM Prime Holdings fell 10 centavos at 7.70 pesos.
San Miguel Corp's B shares, available to foreign investors, rose one peso to 75, while its A shares, open to local investors only, were steady at 59 pesos.
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