Photo by AFP.

MANILA, Philippines - Local stocks rose to a new all-time high for the third straight day on Friday, January 4.

The key Philippine Stock Exchange index edged closer to the 6,000 level, settling at 5,971.45, up 37.4 points or 0.63% from Thursday's close of 5,934.05.

The broader all-share index went up 15.55 points or 0.41% to 3,778.43.

Except for the industrial index, all sectoral indices ended in green. The services sector posted the highest jump of 0.79%.

Gainers outpaced losers, 98 to 67, while 49 stocks did not move.

A total of 1.62 billion shares worth P7.59 billion changed hands.

Heavily weighted telecommunications firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. was the most actively traded stock. It climbed 1.45% to P2,650 per share.

Property giant Megaworld Corp. was next, soaring 6.25% to P3.06.

Top lender BDO Unibank Inc. was the third most active stock. It rose 1.36% to P74.50. - Rappler.com