Category — Finance News

The main Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 210.14 points, or 5.13 percent, to close at a six-month low of 3,885.96.

This was the worst single-day performance since Oct. 27, 2008, when the PSEi plummeted 12.3 percent after US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed under the weight of the US sub-prime property crisis.

The local index had the gains made earlier this year wiped out and is now 7.5 percent below the end-2010 level.

All counters were sold down, with the mining/oil and property counters the most battered, falling 9.87 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

Some P8.2 billion worth of shares changed hands in trading that saw nearly 13 stocks declining for every single stock that advanced. Foreign selling exceeded foreign buying by P270 million for the day.
It’s said to say but yesterday was really bad for the stock market.

“The 3Rs continue to feed the bears—recession fears on the global economy, renewed risks in the capital markets especially with possible default of European countries and the retreat of investors to safer investment instruments,” said Astro del Castillo, managing director at local fund management firm First Grade Holdings.

“Fundamentally, we are stable but definitely not immune to the realignment of fund managers,” he said.

Bargain Hunting

This may be an opportunity for bargain hunters who would take advantage of the drop of stock prices. I’m quite excited about this and might buy. It’s still sad though..

A lot of banks have been doing this for the past few years and Chinabank isn’t going to be different:

China Banking Corporation (China Bank) has launched Money Lift Quarterly. A five-year-and-one-day time deposit product that offers high interest rates from 4.00%* p.a. for a minimum P50,000 to as high as 4.75%* p.a. for P1 million and above – tiered rates apply for other deposit amounts, substantially higher than other regular savings and time deposit accounts. Best of all, interest earned is tax-free (free from witholding tax if held to maturity) and paid out quarterly. Much more, document stamp taxes

This is the news about LBC Bank which was just placed under receivership by the PDIC:

LBC Development Bank, a unit of the LBC Group, has been placed under receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC).

In a statement over the weekend, PDIC said it took over the assets and liabilities of LBC bank after the Monetary Board of the central bank determined that the institution was plagued by liquidity problems.

“All valid accounts and deposit insurance claims will be paid as soon as possible,” PDIC said in a statement.

LBC Development Bank, with head office on JP Rizal St. in Makati City, had 19 branches nationwide.

As of end-June this year, total deposits placed with the bank amounted to P6.09 billion. Of the amount, P3.73 billion is covered by insurance, PDIC said citing bank records.

In terms of number of accounts, there were 321,516 as of June, 99.4 percent of which are fully covered by deposit insurance, said PDIC.

The government insurance agency said the placement of the thrift bank under its receivership would not significantly affect its resources. PDIC noted that the insured deposits with LBC Development Bank made up only a tenth of one percent of total deposits in the country’s banking system.

Under PDIC’s charter, deposits worth P500,000 or below are covered by insurance. Deposits in excess of the amount may or may not be paid depending on the amount to be raised from the liquidation of a closed bank’s assets.

PDIC will conduct forums in areas where branches of LBC are located so that depositors of the bank will know how to claim insurance.

Owners of deposit accounts worth P10,000 or below need not apply for insurance claims. In their case, PDIC will simply mail notices to them and they can withdraw from designated redemption offices, like branches of Land Bank of the Philippines.

The placement of LBC Development Bank under receivership may come as a surprise to the bank’s depositors given the institution’s track record.

LBC Bank was previously awarded the “superbrand” status by Superbrands Philippines Council, which cited it for being one of the most reliable and trusted brands.

An interesting post was on Inquirer.net yesterday and I couldn’t resist the urge to post the options that were given by some leaders in finance in our country:

Teresa Marcial-Javier
EVP/head of asset management and trust group
Bank of the Philippine Islands

“For a moderately conservative portfolio worth P250,000, invest 15 percent, or P37,500, in BPI Short-Term Fund; 26 percent, or P65,000, in ALFM Peso Bond Fund; 26 percent, or P65,000, in BPI Premium Bond Fund; 23 percent, or P57,500, in ABF Philippines Bond Index Fund; and 10 percent, or P25,000, in BPI Equity Fund.”

Pascual Garcia III
President
Philippine Savings Bank

Given the volatility of markets worldwide, money market funds and bank time deposits are ideal to maintain liquidity in order to be able to enter the equity markets via equity funds when price levels are lower and more favorable.

Tony Cripps
Chief executive officer
HSBC Philippines

The second half will be quite volatile for developed markets given the risks of European contagion and the US debt problems. Developed markets will be quite challenging in the second half and be risk-averse so, personally, I’d be in cash just because I think the markets are going to be choppy. The best thing to do is open an HSBC account and put the P250,000 in it. I think that, in the short term, the market will be quite challenging. On a longer term horizon (three to five years), I’d invest in Philippine growth stocks. I like the mining sector. I’m positive on the Philippines and upbeat on sectors like infrastructure. So on a longer term horizon, I’d recommend investing in a growth fund—more equity than fixed income.

Eugene Acevedo
Retired banker/former president
Philippine National Bank

I still like my (buy) Aussie dollar idea, a proxy play on gold and China growth. Allot P100,000 for this. Add to that P50,000 for power generation equity shares as I expect demand to keep rising faster than the economy. For the remaining P100,000, invest in YOURSELF. That’s right—YOURSELF. Pay for gym membership and get a trainer. Save on future medical expenses. Learn Mandarin to make your resumé more marketable regionally. Pick up a musical instrument to open up the creative side of your brain. Get a trusted style icon friend to help you fix your look.

Arcus Fernando
Country treasurer
Citi Philippines

I like long tenor peso government bonds, 10 years or longer. There is good value in locking in at the current levels. With global growth at risk and with the inflation outlook benign, monetary authorities worldwide are expected to keep interest rates low. The concern over the poor growth in the United States and Euro area will lead global investors to focus on emerging markets assets and currencies—Philippine assets and the peso included. Local equities may show some interesting valuations, but given the poor global growth picture, equity markets will tend to be more volatile. Investments in stocks over the near term would be best for those with higher risk tolerance.

Marvin Fausto
Chief investment officer
Banco de Oro Unibank

If the funds will be needed within 12 months, I suggest you invest in our BDO Peso Money market (PMMF) fund to enjoy relatively high yield for a short term and very conservative investment. Investments are in deposits, government securities and SDA [special deposit accounts] of the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas]. One can terminate and withdraw from the fund anytime. Yields are very stable and earns higher than what you get from an ordinary deposit. BDO PMMF generates returns of 3 to 4 percent per year. If funds can be invested longer, I suggest the BDO Equity fund. The fund is invested in listed equities that are designed to outperform the stock market. The fund has outperformed the stock market for the past five years due to disciplined and professional management. It is for investors with higher risk appetite and who are willing to ride the volatility of the market in order to generate higher returns over the long term.

Rene Sarmiento
First vice president/head of trust group
China Bank

Those with conservative risk profile may invest in time deposits or special savings deposits of China Bank where they can earn fixed rates of returns. Conservative persons with longer-term orientation may buy government securities from the bank’s treasury department. Yields on GS investments vary depending on the term of the instrument and the prevailing market prices.

The more sophisticated and aggressive individuals may opt to invest in pooled funds such as the Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs). Yields on UITFs vary depending on the specific fund’s performance. The performance of UITFs will exhibit some volatility since assets held by these funds are marked-to-market daily. China Bank offers three peso-denominated UITF variants: China Bank Money Market Fund, GS Fund and Balanced Fund where the investment requirement is only P100,000. These UITFs cater to investors with varying risk appetites, needs and objectives. For instance, if a client desires a high level of liquidity and still wishes to enjoy better earnings potential than letting his funds remain in a deposit account, he could look at the Money Market Fund. Those with higher risk tolerance may consider the Balanced Fund. For those who also want added insurance coverage, variable life insurance plan from China Bank’s bancassurance arm, Manulife-China Bank Life Assurance Corp. (MCBLife), may be an option.

This actually got me thinking about some money I have stored. I could probably resist buying or buy while the prices are low then wait.