The Philippine stock market eked out a small gain on Tuesday -- a day before the country welcomes Benigno Aquino III as its new president over the next six years. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index was up by 0.26 percent or 8.81 points to 3,372.71, while the broader all-share index gained 0.23 percent or 4.95 points to 2,145.51. Trading volume reached 2.12 billion shares valued at 3.59 billion pesos (77.52 million U.S. dollars). Foreign investors' interest in the country remains high posting a net buying of 4.65 billion pesos (100.41 million U.S. dollars). Of the six counters, only the property and the mining and oil sectors finished lower, while holding firms gained the most with 0. 44 percent or 10.09 points to 2,278.30. Advancers swept decliners 49 to 46 while 73 shares did not move. 'The market will take a break on Wednesday when a new government leadership is sworn in. It is not far-fetched to expect a rally in stocks (on Tuesday) as investors welcome the new administration with renewed confidence,' Justino Calaycay, an analyst with local brokerage Accord Capital Equities Corp., said in his daily stock market comment. The Philippine stock market has been cautiously keeping its uptrend since last week, making small gains each day, similar with the performance of the overseas markets, and ahead of the swearing in of Aquino III as the nation's 15th president on Wednesday. Following the yet another tepid performance of the U.S. market on Monday, investors on Tuesday cautiously entered the Philippine equities and this helped push the index higher, though marginally. Maria Arlysa Narciso, an analyst with AB Capital Securities, Inc., said interests were seen in some large holding companies, while power issues took a backseat on Tuesday. These holding include Ayala Corp.--Philippines' oldest conglomerate--and Alliance Global Group, Inc. of Chinese-Filipino tycoon Andrew Tan which climbed by 0.76 percent and 3.77 percent, respectively. Both issues were among the most actively traded on Tuesday. 'Lately, the local index has been making higher lows yet lower highs. After it has breached past a resistance of 3,300, ( technical indicators) are (indicating that the market) will encounter a resistance of 3,365,' Narciso said. 'Although the index was able to finish above this level, we'll be seeing if it can be sustained once the market opens on Thursday. Key points that may encourage investors will be the jobs situation in the U.S.,' she added. But the plans that will be laid out by incoming Philippine president Aquino III will plot the direction the market will take in the next months, Narciso said. 