Financial Services

While the markets in the Philippines have been doing well, a number of barriers to investment exist making local stocks and bonds potentially somewhat less attractive than those in other regional markets. One of the disincentives is the tax structure. Foreigners buying shares and bonds have to pay a high withholding tax. Even when they are entitled...

While the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in South-east Asia, the country lags when it comes to foreign investment, particularly compared to some of its regional neighbours. On July 10, 2013, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) released the latest foreign direct investment (FDI) data, showing a net inflow of $202m for April...

Markets in the Philippines have been performing well for a number of years. The country’s benchmark stock index was up 63% in 2009, 38% in 2010, 4% in 2011 and 33% in 2012. Among Asian equity markets, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) was the second best performer in 2012 ( just behind Thailand, with a 35.8% gain). It hit 38 all-time records that...

The Philippine banking sector has strengthened significantly in recent years, tracking general economic trends and benefitting from prudent measures put into place over time to boost capital and improve supervision, corporate governance and transparency. Most institutions are now in good shape. They are both profitable and sound, able not only to...