THE Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 30.94, or 1.1 percent, to 2,824.81 at the close, its fourth day of losses. The measure is 27-percent down from its 3,873.50 record close on October 8.

The following are among the most active shares in the Philippine market Wednesday. Stock symbols are in brackets after company names.

Property stocks: Uniwide Holdings Inc. (UW PM), a builder and operator of retail shops, dropped 1 centavo, or 6.7 percent, to 14 centavos, its lowest since March 25, on concern that rising inflation will raise interest rates and erode consumer spending. Oil for immediate delivery gained 1.6 percent to a record $119.37 a barrel in New York Tuesday. Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. (VLL PM), the fifth-biggest Philippine homebuilder, lost 5 centavos, or 1.9 percent, to P2.65, bound for its lowest close since the stock began trading June 25.

Transportation stocks: PAL Holdings Inc. (PAL PM), parent company of the nation’s largest carrier, Philippine Airlines Inc., lost 10 centavos, or 2.4 percent, to P4.10, the lowest since July 3 as aviation fuel climbed to a record. Jet kerosene rose 2.1 percent to $143.85 a barrel Tuesday and recently traded at $144.15. Lorenzo Shipping Corp. (LSC PM), a domestic interisland-cargo shipper, slumped 14 centavos, or 11 percent, to P1.16, its biggest loss since January 30.

Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI PM), the holding company of Andrew Tan, the nation’s fourth-richest businessman, jumped 5 centavos, or 1.3 percent, to P4, its biggest gain in 13 sessions. The company said its profit rose to a record P3.3 billion last year after sales more than tripled.

Atlas Consolidated Mining & Development Corp. (AT PM), a Philippine copper and nickel producer, increased 50 centavos, or 4.4 percent, to P11.75, its highest close since January 16. A measure of six metals traded on the London Metal Exchange, including copper and nickel, gained 2 percent yesterday, ending three days of losses.

Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (DGTL PM), a Philippine provider of fixed-line and wireless phone services, jumped 6 centavos, or 4.1 percent, to P1.52, its biggest gain since March 31.

The company said it would spend $393 million this year to expand the capacity of its Sun Cellular mobile phone service.

DMCI Holdings Inc. (DMC PM), the largest Philippine construction company by value, declined 10 centavos, or 1.4 percent, to P7.10, the lowest since April 30, 2007. The company said its mining unit needs a partner for a possible investment in a $60 million nickel smelter north of the capital, Manila.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPI PM), the Philippine property unit of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co., gained 10 centavos, or 2.4 percent, to P4.35, its highest since January 7. The company will pay P2.03 billion of debt by swapping 1.89 billion shares, helping it preserve cash. (Bloomberg)

JGSH Philippines Ltd., a wholly-owned offshore unit of JG Summit Holdings Inc., has secured a $300-million syndicated term-loan facility it will use to pay maturing obligations.

SkyCable to spend P600M on digital encryption boxes

CENTRAL CATV, a cable television firm doing business as SkyCable, will spend P600 million this year to roll out more digital boxes in Metro Manila and Cebu, according to chief operating officer Carlo Katigbak.

SAN Miguel Properties Inc. (SMPI), the listed property arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), said its net profit in 2007 rose 44 percent to P371 million from P257 million a year earlier driven by higher-rental income and lower-operating expenses.

CLIENTS can now get the Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor in systems from Hewlett-Packard (HP), processor maker ADVANCED Micro Devices (AMD) said in a statement.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 30.94, or 1.1 percent, to 2,824.81 at the close, its fourth day of losses. The measure is 27-percent down from its 3,873.50 record close on October 8.

The merger of Equitable PCI Bank and Banco de Oro Universal Bank, shortened to BDO Unibank, has opened up more shares to foreign funds. Prior to the merger, foreign ownership of BDO common shares had reached the 40-percent legal limit, which dropped to 17.72 percent as of June 30, 2007, a month after the merger took effect.