PSE sets stock market investment conference

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is reinforcing its presence in Cebu by encouraging Cebuanos once again to participate in the stock market investment and take advantage of the country’s promising economic outlook.

PSE is set to hold the “Cebu Stock Market Investment Conference” on May 23 from 1:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon at the Cebu  City Marriott Hotel as a follow up to the PSE’s successful stock market roadshows in 2012.

This seminar will present the latest stock market updates, programs and products initiated by the Exchange.

PSE is drumming up its promotion to attract Cebuano and other out-of-town stock market investors, as about 70 percent of the local investors that currently participate in the stock market are from Luzon.

In an earlier interview with PSE head for capital market development division Leo Quinito, he said that since the opening of the PSE Cebu office 2011, more and more Cebuanos are now starting to appreciate investing in the capital market.

Since the establishment of the PSE Satellite Office at the Insular Building in Cebu Business Park in late 2011, Quinito said it has attracted 250 new accounts.

As of last year, of the 505 thousand investors in the stock exchange, only about 2,500 accounts were coming from the Cebuano investors.

He hopes that more Cebuanos from across market segments, including the young generation, will see the benefits in putting their investments in the capital market.

Due to the good capital market environment in the Philippines, volumes of investors playing in the stock market grew by 32 percent, although he said PSE has yet to achieve its targeted level which is to convince the six million potential Filipinos who are earning above P30,000 a month.

Of the 99 million Filipinos, only six million earn at least P30,000 a month. This group is one of the targets of the PSE to participate in the equity market in order to build their wealth.

As of latest count, there are total of 505 thousand investors in the stock market, about 95 percent of which are Filipinos while five percent are foreign investors.

According to Quinito, the country’s good economic standing should not be downplayed by Filipinos as this development is grounded by the low interest rate regime, record-low inflation, improving governance, good performance of listed companies and the influx of foreign investors to the country.

PSE is reiterating its call to all investors across the market segments that investing in the stock market is not only for the affluent. He said there is a need for Cebuanos to be further educated on the opportunities of investing into stocks.

While the affluent market has already taken advantage of this wealth-building opportunity, Quinito said PSE  is now looking at the mainstream market  to get attracted into putting their hard-earned money in the equity market.

The Philippine stock market  is regarded as number three in the world and top performer in Asia. This is because of its healthy growth path over the years, despite the threat of global economic fragility. /JMD  (FREEMAN)