Stock Exchange Roundup: First Abacus Financial Leads Charge as Utilities Face Headwinds
Posted on 2/27/26
Activity on the local bourse presented a diverse landscape on February 27, 2026, with significant movements across various sectors. While some smaller-cap firms posted impressive gains, larger players experienced mixed fortunes, reflecting a dynamic investor sentiment.
Leading the pack of top performers was First Abacus Financial Holdings Corp., trading under the symbol FAF. The company surged by an impressive 17.86%, adding Php 0.10 to close at Php 0.66. Its ascent was backed by a volume of 8,000 shares, valuing Php 5,280.00. Following closely was Discovery World Corporation (DWC), which advanced by 15.22%. It saw its last done price settle at Php 1.06, up Php 0.14, with 241,000 shares worth Php 237,740.00 changing hands. Uniholdings Inc. (UNH) also recorded a notable gain of 9.32%, closing at Php 129.00 after an Php 11.00 increase on a modest volume of 110 shares, totaling Php 13,390.00.
Other significant gainers included East Coast Vulcan Mining Corporation (ECVC), which rose by 6.67% to Php 0.32, with 20,000 shares traded for Php 6,400.00. Island Information & Technology, Inc. (IS) climbed 6.54% to Php 0.114, seeing robust trading with 3,450,000 shares valued at Php 387,620.00. Benguet Corporation "B" (BCB) also posted a respectable 5.81% increase, closing at Php 7.10 on a volume of 150,900 shares, totaling Php 1,076,670.00. Agrinurture, Inc. (ANI), an agricultural player, saw a 5.66% rise to Php 0.56, with a substantial volume of 10,416,000 shares amounting to Php 5,728,860.00, potentially reflecting positive sentiment in the agri-business sector. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), a bellwether conglomerate, also registered a solid 4.43% gain, closing at Php 34.20 with an impressive Php 190,323,008.00 worth of shares traded across 5,638,000 units, indicative of broader confidence in its diversified portfolio, particularly its renewable energy and infrastructure ventures.
On the flip side, several prominent counters experienced downward pressure. Philippine Realty and Holdings Corporation (RLT) took the steepest fall, plummeting by 9.65% to a last done price of Php 0.103. The stock traded 200,000 shares for a total value of Php 20,790.00. Kepwealth Property Phils., Inc. (KPPI) followed with an 8.78% drop, closing at Php 1.35, with 3,000 shares valued at Php 4,150.00. Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corporation "A" (OPM) saw its shares decline by 7.69% to Php 0.012, with a high volume of 42,100,000 shares changing hands for Php 505,200.00, possibly reflecting continued cautiousness in the oil exploration sector.
Among the more actively traded decliners, Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWC), a major utility, registered a 4.73% decline, shedding Php 2.00 to end at Php 40.30. Its shares generated a significant Php 223,556,992.00 in total value from 5,439,200 shares, potentially reflecting concerns over regulatory conditions or investor profit-taking after recent upward movements. PXP Energy Corporation (PXP), an energy exploration firm, also fell by 4.48% to Php 3.20, with 1,338,000 shares worth Php 4,357,560.00 traded, likely influenced by fluctuating global commodity prices or specific project developments. Philippine National Bank (PNB) saw its stock price dip by 4.18%, closing at Php 64.20 as Php 29,209,000.00 worth of its shares exchanged hands. This movement could be attributed to broader banking sector adjustments or specific market sentiments regarding lending and interest rate outlooks. Lastly, Synergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc. (SGP) also closed lower by 4.08% at Php 20.00, with 3,733,000 shares valued at Php 75,935,296.00.
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