THE registered foreign portfolio investments of the Philippines decreased by 8.5 percent to only $16.1 billion in 2017 from $17.6 billion in 2016.
According to the Central Bank of the Philippines, about 81.9% of the portfolio investments registered last year were in PSE-related securities and about 17.5% were in peso government securities (GS). Top foreign investors last year were noted to be United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Malaysia with combined share that made up the 74.8% of the entire portfolio investment.
The lowest gross inflows made in 2017 were recorded to be in August with only $936 million and the highest was in July at $2 billion. The quarter with the best inflow performance was the second quarter with an accumulated amount of $4.8 billion making up 30% of the entire 2017 total.
“This may be attributed to positive investor sentiment arising from the World Bank’s view that the Philippines will continue to be a top performer in the region, and the conflict resolution in Marawi City.
These were further supported by accelerated net foreign buying as well as the approval by Congress of the first phase of the tax reform package,” BSP’s statement said.
On the other hand, outlaws made for 2017 amounted to $16.3 billion. This has also decreased by 5.23% from the $17.2 billion outlaws made in 2016.
