Mar top choice of fund managers

MANILA, Philippines - Administration presidential standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II is the preferred choice among local and foreign fund managers as they would like to see the continuation of good governance reforms put in place by the Aquino administration, according to financial services officials.

“Fund managers want Mar Roxas to continue daang matuwid,” COL Financial vice president and head of Research April Lynn Tan told a press briefing yesterday.

She said Roxas is the primary choice among fund managers and other stock market investors even if his ratings are still catching up in the surveys.

According to a January Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, Vice President Jejomar Binay is the leading candidate with 31 percent, up from 26 percent in December, while Sen. Grace Poe placed second with 24 percent, down from 26 percent.

On the other hand, Roxas, the Liberal Party standard bearer, got 21 percent while Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had 20 percent.

Despite his low ratings, investors prefer a Roxas presidency and want to see him elected for continuity.

“They like the current administration,” said COL Financial head of technical research Juan Barredo.

COL Financial president and CEO Conrado Bate said investors want to see the next president safeguard the good governance reforms put in place “because this administration made changes to safeguard good governance reforms,” Bate said.

They noted that investors appreciated the anti-corruption drive of the Aquino administration and want to see this continue through the next administration. .  – With Paolo Romero