Financial Services

Buoyed by recent rapid macroeconomic growth, the Philippines’ insurance industry has seen marked improvements in assets, density and penetration, with the life segment as its main engine. Foreign participation in the sector remains strong and companies are profitable, despite high competition.

Two things have become clear to the PSE: global financial markets are moving quickly in terms of developing products and services, and the Philippine market possesses great potential that has yet to be fully realised.

Capital movement in the 21st century is a global phenomenon. Despite geographic controls in some places, funds flow in and out of borders, and among various asset classes, depending on the relative attractiveness of opportunities. These can be affected by interest rates, taxation, ease of access to investments, and the products and services...

The passage of Republic Act No. 9856 in 2009, otherwise known as the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) Law, established the legal and regulatory framework for the development of domestic REITs, and was lauded as a significant step for the Philippines as it catches up with the rest of the world.

While advanced economies generate the vast majority of insurance and reinsurance business, emerging markets are posting higher rates of growth. Complementing this underlying trend is a strong and expanding interest in catastrophic risk, which by nature tends to pertain to emerging markets. This is coming alongside fast-paced, sector-...