THE Philippine Stock Exchange index Thursday fell 11.75, or 0.4 percent, to 3,211.60 at the noon close in Manila, after earlier advancing as much as 0.7 percent. It was the 32-member benchmark’s first loss in three days.

The following were among the most active stocks in the Philippine market Thursday. Stock symbols are in brackets after company names.

Ayala Corp. (AC PM), the second-largest Philippine company by market value, jumped P7.50, or 1.7 percent, to P455, its biggest gain 12 days. The company reported after the market closed a record P16.2 billion in net profit last year, up 33 percent from 2006, boosted by profit gains at its bank, property and phone units.

Ayala Land Inc. (ALI PM), the largest Philippine builder, lost P1, or 7.4 percent, to P12.50, its sharpest drop since March 1, 2007. Ayala said Wednesday it may sell up to 1 billion common shares, equivalent to 7.7 percent of its outstanding stock, to raise funds it may use for acquisitions.

IPVG Corp. (IP PM), a call-center operator, climbed 5 centavos, or 1 percent, to P5, its first advance this week. IPVG bought Prolexic Technologies Inc., a US-based Internet security provider, for $10.5 million, according to news reports.

Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC PM), the largest Philippine fast-food company, gained P3, or 6.1 percent, to P52.50, its sharpest advance since August 21. The company reported its net income rose 9.6 percent to P2.36 billion last year, although fourth quarter profits fell 16 percent to P550 million.

Macroasia Corp. (MAC PM), the Philippine provider of in-flight catering and ground handling services to airlines, lost 5 centavos, or 1.2 percent, its biggest loss in eight days. The company said it might spend up to $100 million to build an integrated aviation facility in the property it will lease from an airport north of Manila.

Petron Corp. (PCOR PM), the largest Philippine oil refiner, headed for its first climb this week, gaining 10 centavos, or 1.9 percent, to P5.50 as oil prices returned to $93 a barrel after dropping to $92.78 on February 12. Oil recently traded 0.1-percent higher at $93.32 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.              

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (TEL PM), the nation’s largest phone company, gained for the third day, adding P30, or 1 percent, to P2,990. PLDT, as the company is also known, said it would spend P25 billion this year to expand its network. (Bloomberg)

AYALA Corp. (AC), the country’s oldest conglomerate, posted a record P16.2 billion in net profit last year, up 33 percent from 2006.

Jollibee Foods ends ’07 in the black despite 15% loss in 4th quarter

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. (JFC) managed to post a 9.6 percent growth in net profit for 2007 despite a 15.5-percent contraction in net earnings in the fourth quarter on higher cost of raw materials.

SAN FRANCISCO—A week after saying he wouldn’t get into a bidding war for Yahoo Inc., Rupert Murdoch is emerging as a potential white knight for the Internet company as it tries to fend off Microsoft Corp.’s unsolicited takeover bid, according to people familiar with the talks.

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL), the country’s flag carrier, incurred a loss of $11.3 million in its fiscal third-quarter ending in December.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index Thursday fell 11.75, or 0.4 percent, to 3,211.60 at the noon close in Manila, after earlier advancing as much as 0.7 percent. It was the 32-member benchmark’s first loss in three days.

Social entrepreneurs Basil and Vie Reyes are negotiating to supply one-kilo coffee roasters to a supermarket chain. The pitch here is the supermarket will be able to give its customers extra value for their money by roasting the coffee beans of their choice within 10 minutes.