Manila - The United States on Friday announced it was providing relief assistance worth 2.5 million dollars to thousands of residents displaced by a recent outbreak of hostilities in the southern Philippines.

US ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney made the announcement during a visit to a camp for internally displaced persons in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, more than 300,000 people are still displaced by the fighting between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in the southern region of Mindanao.

Manila - Philippine share prices plummeted for the second straight session on Friday, closing 4.14 per cent lower on overnight losses in Wall Street.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 76.43 points to close at 1,765.90. On Thursday, the index declined
3.45 per cent to finish at 1,842.33.

A total of 820.15 million shares worth 1.16 billion pesos (23.38 million dollars) were traded.

Losers swamped gainers 79 to 11, while 34 issues were unchanged.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.45 per cent on Thursday, dragged down by Wall Street's overnight losses as investors braced for a prolonged economic slump.

The 30-share composite of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 65.85 points to close at 1,842.33 from Wednesday's finish of 1,908.18.

A total 552.06 million shares worth 1.38 billion pesos (28.16 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 96 to 12, while 22 issues were unchanged.

Cotabato City, Philippines - Thirteen Muslim separatist rebels were killed while two soldiers were hurt in separate clashes in the southern Philippines, the military said Tuesday.

It said 10 guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed Tuesday in a firefight in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.42 per cent on Tuesday on news of massive job cuts and more economies falling into recession due to the global slump.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 66.40 points to close at 1,873.60, from Monday's finish of 1,940.00.

A total of 751.83 million shares worth 1.20 billion pesos (24.48 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 85 to 8, while 26 issues were unchanged.

Traders said investor sentiments were dampened by reports that Citigroup, the second largest US bank, cut 52,000 jobs in a bid to save itself.