The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 1.25 percent or 99.14 points to end at 8,043.07. The Budget department also announced that state spending had jumped by 15.5 percent in January, driven by pay hikes for uniformed personnel and outlays for the “Build Build Build” program. Investors ignored concerns about a US-Russia stand-off over Syria, which triggered declines in other Asian markets on Thursday. Eagle Equities, Inc. President Joseph Roxas, meanwhile, said local investors resumed bargain-hunting following a long weekend. More than 1.45 billion shares valued at P5.9 billion changed hands.

Source: Manila Times April 12, 2018 16:30 UTC