Philippine Stock Market Weekly

In this episode, FirstMetroSec’s Equity Research Associate Adel Bermudez discussed our updated insights on Bank of the Philippine Islands. Adel also shared our take on the pending merger of BPI and Robinsons Bank. Adel also disclosed our new target price for BPI. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this economic briefing, the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (ACERD) shared comprehensive updates on the macroeconomic performance of the Philippines. Hear it straight from the distinguished economists from ACERD and gain first access to their economic outlook and insights for the Philippines amid lingering global headwinds today.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara talks about Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. Joan shares her thoughts on the acquisition of a 6.5% equity stake in the Bank of the Philippine Islands. She also shares FirstMetroSec’s new target price for RRHI. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

FirstMetroSec’s Adel Bermudez discusses why we think the fixed-line space will remain a tough market to penetrate for Globe Telecom, Inc. (GLO). Moreover, Adel explains why the mobile market share between GLO and PLDT Inc (TEL) appear to be closer than historical data suggests. Adel also shares our new target price for GLO.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Adel Bermudez talks about our updated outlook on Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. (CNVRG). Adel discusses the two factors we believe should merit accumulation of CNVRG on further price action weakness. Adel also shares our new target price for CNVRG.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Adel Bermudez discusses why we prefer to accumulate TEL at these levels. Adel also explains we think TEL can mitigate the impact of rising competition (esp. from mobile) to its earnings.

FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara talks about our updated outlook on Puregold Price Club, Inc. (PGOLD). She explains that there are near-term pressures expected for the company from inflation, weak Peso, and pre-operating store expenses. She also shares FirstMetroSec’s new target price on PGOLD. These and more, only on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

Listen to First Metro Sec’s Department Head for Retail Research Royce Aguilar as he discusses why the PSEi rallied by nearly 2% last April 2023. He also shares the impact of a possible supply crunch of rice and sugar.

In this episode, IMI’s Global Head of Investor Relations and Business Development Finance, Brian Jalijali joins our host and Department Head for Retail Research Royce Aguilar to talk about the measures the company implemented to get pass through the COVID-19 pandemic and the global supply chain issues. The two also discussed the prospects of each of IMI’s segments (i.e. Automotive, Industrial, Aerospace/Defense, Consumer, Telco, and Medical). Tune in to learn more about IMI only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, Royce Aguilar discusses what made the market move in the first quarter of 2023. Royce also dissected the timeline of the recent banking crisis in U.S. and Europe and elaborated on the reasons why it happened. Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara discusses the company’s earnings growth expectations for Wilcon Depot, Inc.’s (WLCON) in 2023 and 2024. Joan also highlighted the key risks that can result to a slower growth for WLCON going forward. Get to know FirstMetroSec’s new target price on WLCON, these and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this type of tough market environment, most investors and traders find it hard to remain resilient, specifically when picking stocks as well as managing risks. In this episode, we invited Mr. Junie Banaag, who is recognized for his long-term track record of #1 in the management of equity funds. He has 30 years of experience in economics, industry and company analysis, valuation, portfolio construction and execution, and client management. Currently, he helps “small” investors in portfolio management or developing, formulating, and implementing investment strategies, managing risks, and remaining resilient when financial markets are performing poorly. Listen in as we discuss all you need to know about picking stocks at this kind of market environment in this episode of our podcast series.

In this episode, we discuss the stock market highlights in February 2023.

Listen to Royce Aguilar as he analyzes why the local market in February 2023 had offset the gains it posted last January 2023. He also shared First Metro Securities Research’s outlook for each of the key sectors in the PSE.

Tune in to know our top picks and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode.

In this episode, Premiere Island Power REIT Corporation (PREIT) Investor Relations Officer Kitto Jacinto joins our host and Department Head for Retail Research Royce Aguilar to talk about the company’s missionary electrification operations.  Royce was able to ask PREIT about the company’s differentiating factor vs other REITs in the market.  Tune in to learn more about PREIT only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara discusses our earnings growth forecast for EMI driven primarily by the sustained rise in revenue contribution of the whiskey segment resulting in margin recovery in the next two years. However, we are of the view that EMI’s domestic business will continue to be under pressure amid shifting consumer preferences in favour of other spirit categories and rising competition. Joan will also explain our target price and call for EMI.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara discusses why we like FB as a branded food & beverage (F&B) powerhouse – with its dominant market leadership across food, beer, and spirits businesses. Joan also explains our new target price on FB as valuations have de-rated since COVID. On a positive note, Joan elaborates why at current levels, FB offers an attractive entry point.

Energy? Water? Toll Roads? Agriculture?

In this episode, FirstMetroSec’s Royce Aguilar sits down with Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s (MPI) Vice President for Investor Relations, Maricris Aldover-Ysmael, to discuss the company’s outlook on some of its business segments. The two also go over the risks the company is on the lookout for.

Tune in to learn more about MPI only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

FirstMetroSec’s Equity Research Analyst, Alyssa Alamar shares our updated insights on MREIT including our new target price for the company. Alyssa elaborates why MREIT is among our top REIT picks for 2023, as the sector should benefit from a Fed pivot/pause.  

FirstMetroSec’s Equity Research Analyst, Alyssa Alamar shares our updated insights on RCR as well as why we have confidence that stable organic growth is embedded in RCR’s portfolio without factoring asset injections. Alyssa elaborates why RCR is among our top REIT picks for 2023, as the company should benefit from a Fed pivot/pause. 

FirstMetroSec’s Adel Bermudez is back to discuss why the SIM registration is a step in the right direction but has material implications on telco players. Adel also explains why TEL and CNVRG are in better position versus GLO.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Equity Research Associate Peter Garnace shares our insights on our coverage, Citicore Energy REIT Corp. Peter discusses on how CREIT stands out among the REITs in our coverage. Peter also points out how CREIT has a unique business model with large headroom for growth.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec's Equity Research Associate Adel Bermudez discusses First Metro Securities’ updated outlook on Security Bank Corp. She explains how SECB’s valuations are undemanding vis-à-vis SECB’s strong capital position and earnings growth trajectory. Adel also shares First Metro Securities’ new target price for SECB.

FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara talks about Century Pacific Food, Inc.  (CNPF). She explains why the company’s diversified product portfolio is well positioned to capture changing consumer preferences and weather macroeconomic headwinds. She also shares FirstMetroSec’s new target price on CNPF. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this episode, Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc.’s (PIZZA) President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente Gregorio joins our host and Equity Research Deputy Head for Retail Royce Aguilar to talk about how the company retains its market leadership despite the inflationary environment.

The two also talked about PIZZA’s other brands (Peri-Peri & Potato Corner) and how they fit in the company’s overall strategy.

Listen to Royce Aguilar as he analyzes the main reasons why the PSEi rallied by more than 10% in the month of November. He also discusses two new buy calls investors can consider buying amidst the current market environment.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Equity Research Associate, Adel Bermudez elaborates on why we are underweight on the Philippine telco sector and why we have downgraded our target prices across our telco coverage. Nonetheless, the recent selloff offers an opportunity to enter on select stocks with specific catalysts, which, in our view, can mitigate the impact of rising competition in the core telco segments. Learn more about which stocks are those here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly!

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we dissect what made the local market rally in October 2022.

Find out what to anticipate in the coming months as investors try to gauge the monetary policy of the U.S. and Philippines. He also shares several factors on why the Hang Seng Index (from Hong Kong) dropped by the most since 2008 last October.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A portion.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Alyssa Alamar talks about Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC). She shares her key takeaways from her Bridgetowne site visit. She also discusses why she thinks Bridgetowne is underappreciated by the market and why she sees long term earnings runway for the group. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara talks about Wilcon Depot, Inc. (WLCON). She explains why WLCON’s topline appears to be stronger in the third quarter of 2022. She also shares why WLCON’s higher inventory cover is good use of cash under the current environment. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

POGO exodus? Higher interest rates’ effect to the residential sector? Malls back to pre-COVID levels?

Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc.’s co-founder and CEO David Leechiu joins our host and Deputy Head for Retail Research Royce Aguilar for an elaborate discussion focusing on the different segments of the Philippine property sector so far: residential, office, retail, and industrial. This episode also features David’s general recommendation for property investors, both for those already invested and those planning to buy their first property.

Plus, learn about Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc.’s views and gain insights on the local property scene in this episode of the Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this episode, we discuss the reasons for the PSEi’s biggest monthly drop since March 2020.

Royce Aguilar also delves into the reasons why the US Dollar is outperforming against other currencies. He also defines credit default swaps and shares more stocks picks.

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we discuss the stock market highlights in August 2022.

Listen to Royce Aguilar as he analyzes the equity market’s strong performance in the month of August. He also dissected the earnings performance of different sectors in the index. Plus, find out what to watch out for as we enter the Ber months.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode.

In this episode, we are joined by Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT).

CREIT is at the forefront of driving the green agenda in the Philippines’ real estate industry.  

Tune into this episode as CREIT management shares their ongoing projects, strategies, and plans for building sustainable and modern communities and what this means to you as an investor.

In this episode, you can hear from Francis Suarez, CFO, and Joey Crisol, Head of Investor Relations of GTCAP. The team shared the company’s current assessment of the business environment post-pandemic, including the future of banking, automotive, property, infrastructure, and insurance.

Hosted by Royce Aguilar, Equity Research Deputy Head for Retail.

In this episode, we dived into why the local and global markets rallied in July 2022 despite the several risks.

Royce Aguilar talks about the pros and cons of a weak Philippine Peso plus how to take advantage of the recent PSEi rebalancing. He also shares which economic data to watch out for in this eventful August.

In this episode, PSE’s President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Monzon joins our host and Equity Research Deputy Head for Retail Royce Aguilar to talk about the growing influence of retail investors locally. The two also talked about the benefits of short selling, how the company plans to further protect investors, and the PSE’s outlook on capital raising activities.

Host and Equity Research Deputy Head for Retail, Royce Aguilar is joined by Ser Percival Peña-Reyes, Ph.D., Director at the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development, a professor and researcher with an extensive background in Economics.

The two discuss economic highlights as well as the recent employment prospects of the country. In this episode, we also touched on the country's inflation, debt profile, and how the foreign exchange rate is expected to move from here. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

Hear it from the company with the largest market capitalization in the country 

FirstMetroSec's Royce Aguilar sits down with Tynee Tan, Investor Relations Senior Manager of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., and talks about the company’s outlook on its malls, residential, and office segments. The two also nail down the firm’s ESG performance as well as the details on the company’s planned REIT listing.

Is there room for more downside or should we now be buying the dips?

Hear the answer straight from our Equity Research Division, as they present their 12-month outlook on Philippine equities amid rate hikes, inflation, and Peso depreciation.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Derrick Guarin talks about the causes of high inflation and why the Philippine Central Bank is poised to further raise rates. 

Derrick also shares if we will still continue to subscribe to our view of a cyclical upturn in economic growth and corporate earnings recovery for 2022. 

These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Joan Batara talks about SM Investments, Corp. (SM), the holding company of the SM Group. She elaborates why despite the earnings downgrade, we retain our positive outlook for SM and keep the counter as among our top picks this year. She also shares FirstMetroSec’s new target price for SM. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Alyssa Alamar talks about SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPH), one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. She elaborates that SMPH has a large headroom for earnings recovery with its large mall exposure and robust residential segment She also shares FirstMetroSec’s new target price for SMPH. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, inflation and fear of more aggressive rate hikes from central banks are now the key reasons why market sentiment is bearish.

In this episode, Host and Equity Research Deputy Head for Retail, Royce Aguilar is joined by ATRAM Group's Equities Portfolio Manager, Carlos Navarro - to talk more about their market as well as economic outlook for the rest of the year.

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we dissect the stock market highlights in May 2022.

Listen to Royce Aguilar as he analyzes the PSEi’s performance in the month of May. Royce also discussed stagflation and why investors fear it. Plus, learn what to watch out for in our Philippine stock market next month as we transition to a new administration.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode.

Estella Dhel Villamiel, who heads the Institutional research, discusses the critical factors surrounding the emerging Philippine Property REITs sector amid the rising interest rate environment.

All of these and more in today’s episode of Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

Trying to keep up with the updates on the cryptocurrency space? Metaverse? NFTs?

In this episode, FirstMetroSec's Royce Aguilar sits down with Luis Buenaventura II, one of the world's first NFT artists.

As more listed companies globally venture into cryptocurrency, metaverse, and NFTs, Luis helps us break down the nature and purpose of these rising technologies.

He shares his journey of discovering the digital currency as early as 2014 and expounds on the latest technological developments, such as Web 3.0, blockchain, and the likes.

Tune in to learn more about financial assets only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we dissect the stock market highlights in April 2022.

Find out what to anticipate in the coming months as Royce Aguilar shares that the PSEi fell down sharply in April. He also shares several factors that dragged the market, such as the Ukraine invasion and the fear of more aggressive rate hikes.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A portion.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec’s Alyssa Alamar talks about AREIT, Inc., the country’s first real estate investment trust (REIT). She elaborates AREIT’s visible and stable cash flows and how the asset infusions will support the company’s speedier dividend growth. She also shares FirstMetroSec’s target price for AREIT. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly

Is it wise to invest on D&L Industries, Inc. (DNL)?  In this episode, FirstMetroSec's Royce Aguilar sits down with Alvin Lao, the President and CEO of DNL, and talks about its business model and how the company’s earnings was able to hit pre-pandemic levels in 2021. The two also tackled how the company DNL is able to keep up with the latest technology and how the company addresses rising commodity prices.

Tune in to learn more about DNL only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec's Jan Derrick Guarin talks about the recently passed law amending the Public Service Act (PSA). He elaborates the impact of the amendment of the 85-year-old law while discussing the effects it could bring to the market, particularly to the telecommunications sector. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we dissect the stock market highlights in March 2022.

Royce Aguilar mentions what occurred in the month of March and discusses what to anticipate in the coming months. He also shares what the inversion of the yield curve is all about and more.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode.

Is it wise to invest on Solar companies in the Philippines? In this episode, FirstMetroSec’s Royce Aguilar sits down with Leandro Leviste, the founder and CEO of Solar Philippines, and talks about the sector’s outlook and current projects of the renewable energy company. The two nail down the journey of Solar Philippines while sending a message to investors on why it’s the right time to invest on renewable energy.

Tune in to learn more about Solar Philippines only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

"Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we dissect the stock market highlights during the volatile second month of 2022.

Learn what to anticipate in the coming months, as Royce Aguilar discusses the impact of the current Ukraine-Russia war to the Philippine stock market by re-examining the historical market data when major geopolitical events broke out. We also take a look at the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases despite the multiple electoral rallies held by aspiring candidates.

Tune in to know our top picks this month and grab trading ideas from the Q&A, all in our latest episode."

FirstMetroSec's Banking Analyst Derrick Guarin returns for another episode of Market Bites. In this episode, he describes the outlook for the telecommunications sector as the need for a faster internet drastically grew over the pandemic. He also shares a couple of buy calls for the sector. All these and more only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In another episode of Market Bites, FirstMetroSec's Banking Analyst Derrick Guarin describes the outlook for the financials sector. He also elaborates on why a high-single to low-double digit loans growth is expected in the next 12-24 months. He also explains the top picks in the financials sector. These and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this Market Bites episode, FirstMetroSec's Equity Research Analyst Alyssa Alamar elaborates on their outlook of the country's property sector. She elaborates on how the improving COVID-19 situation sets the stage for Philippine properties to spring a sharp rebound in earnings in the next 12-24 months. She also explains the top picks in the property sector. Learn more about the future of the Philippine property sector only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly!

In this episode, Royce Aguilar of FirstMetroSec's Equity Research Department elaborates on their demand and supply outlook for the power sector. He also discusses the emerging trends in the investments in renewable energy. This and more, only here on Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this episode, Royce Aguilar of FirstMetroSec's Equity Research Department elaborates their outlook on the Consumer sector and why the Consumer discretionary companies will likely outperform for this year. This, plus our top picks for the sector and other trading insights for the year, for this week's episode.

Royce Aguilar of FirstMetroSec's Equity Research Department digs deep on their market outlook and how they came up with their top picks for this year. He specifies why the PSEi can end at above 8,000 levels this year. Be wiser in investing this year by listening until the end of this episode.

Episode recorded last Jan 31 in our webinar entitled “Stronger, Faster, Better: Recovery on the Horizon”.

It's time for this year's last market wrap-up!

In this episode, we talked about how the stock market performed last November and the factors that affected them, including the threat of the new COVID variant, Omicron.

We also reviewed the historical market data during December (from 1990 to 2020). Learn what to anticipate in the last month of the year and insights on this season's most asked question - Will there be a Santa Claus rally? All these, plus new stock picks and trader's playbook picks, in our November wrap-up.

#YourFutureFirst

In this episode, Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SCC) Chief Finance Officer Carla Levina joins our host and research analyst Royce Aguilar. Royce discusses SCC's impressive outperformance this year. Levina shared how SCC took advantage of the global supply and demand. She also discussed their plans on how to grow in the local and global front. All these and more stories behind SCC's outperformance in Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

In this episode, ACEN's President and CEO John Eric Francia joins our host and research analyst Royce Aguilar to delve into how the company managed to boost their performance in the midst of the pandemic and how they plan to strengthen the company further in the local and global fronts.

The episode also highlights Eric Francia’s outlook on the future of the power sector as a whole. All these and more in Philippine Stock Market Weekly First Metro Securities.

Time for another wrap-up! In this episode, we are going through all the highlights in the stock market last month, breaking down why the PSEi rallied and what notable sector and stocks outperformed.

Learn what to anticipate in the last two months of 2021, including global and local economic data releases, COVID-19 updates, and the forthcoming MSCI rebalancing. Moreover, this episode spotlights Synergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc (SGP), its follow-on offering, and the pros and cons of investing in it today.

All these, plus three new BUY picks and two new Trader's Playbook ideas, in our October wrap-up episode.

#YourFutureFirst

Colliers Philippines Associate Director for Research Joey Bondoc joins our host and research analyst Royce Aguilar for an incisive discussion focusing on the Philippine property sector's performance so far, highlights amid the pandemic, and outlook for the rest of the year. This episode also features a breakdown of the noteworthy outperformers and laggards in the sector, as well as industry insights that can definitely help shape your investing and/or trading strategy.

Learn about Colliers Philippines' views and gain insights on the local property scene in this episode of the Philippine Stock Market Weekly.

It's time for another monthly wrap-up episode with First Metro Securities! Royce Aguilar from the Equity Research Team will talk about the relevant events that transpired in the stock market the past month and what to watch out for this October.

This wrap-up also features our analysis on notable stock outperformances, the trending  Evergrande issue, and why it matters for global investors. These and more — including fresh Trader's Playbook trading ideas plus a new long-term BUY pick — in our latest episode.

#YourFutureFirst

Welcome to another episode of Philippine Stock Market Weekly with FirstMetroSec! In this very special episode, Royce Aguilar is joined by our FundsMart partner, First Metro Asset Management, where Edser Trinidad, Head of Investment and Research, shares their year-end outlook and what makes their top-performing Consumer Fund different from other mutual funds. Nikki Monzon, Head of Bank and Non-Bank Partnership Distribution also joins the talk to discuss how their Consumer Fund can be a great addition to the Filipino's investment portfolio. 

These and more in our latest episode of the Philippine Stock Market Weekly. 

#YourFutureFirst

Royce Aguilar from the Equity Research Team discusses what happened in the month of Aug-Ghost and what to expect in September. Additionally, this wrap-up also tackles market highlights – particularly,  the 1H21 earnings and the recent rally of telco stocks. Tune in to hear Royce answer prevalent economic and stock market-related questions, alongside two new Trader's Playbook picks. All of these and more in this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

For this episode, join Royce Aguilar as he talks about Philippine consumers, the trends in consumption, and the top picks in the sector.  

Despite the quarantine restrictions, we believe Philippine consumption will rebound as purchasing power capacities are largely intact. With the cloud of Covid-19 lifting amid the vaccine rollouts, this will enable the Philippine government to further reopen the economy and allow the recovery to progress. Learn more about what lies ahead in this episode of our podcast series.

Host and Research Analyst, Royce Aguilar is joined by Nickel Asia Corp Vice President for Corporate Communications, JB Baylon to talk about how the company is positioning itself with the rising demand for nickel ore given its applications in the electric vehicle, aerospace, and energy sectors. 

Mining has been a major issue among environmentalists. Nickel Asia recognizes this and thus advocates for responsible mining. As the VP for Corporate Communications, JB acknowledges the human factor - thus their aim to be transparent with LGUs and the communities where they mine nickel assets. To mine for more information, listen to this new episode of our podcast series.

 #YourFutureFirst

We all know the market significantly dropped the past month of July as the PSEi went down by 9.2% — the biggest monthly drop since March 2020. 

In the first week of July however, we actually went up because of improving macro data but this quickly reversed after Fitch Ratings downgraded the Philippine economy's outlook and the heightened local transmission of the Delta variant. 

With the significant amount of data and earnings releases, how can we recover in the month of August?

Join Host and Research Analyst, Royce Aguilar as we review what happened in the month of July, what we can anticipate in August, along with a special segment that determines who are expected to be added and removed in the next PSEi rebalancing. All of these and more in our podcast series. 

#YourFutureFirst

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the market flow and inflict volatility to the market. Among the agents behind this turbulence are the presence of the Delta coronavirus variant and global inflation.   

In this episode, Host and Research Analyst, Royce Aguilar is joined by Sun Life's Chief Investment Officer, Mike Enriquez, and SLAMCI's Manager of Bank and Alternative Distributions, Angelle Cruz - to talk more about opportunities despite the pandemic and how can local and foreign investors actively and passively manage their investments given the market situation in the Philippines.

Listen in to this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Wrapping up the month of June, the PSEi rallied by more than 4% thanks to better economic data and the government’s higher-paced vaccine rollout. Moreover, we discussed how higher interest rates affect the performance of the equities markets. Lastly, we dug into two new Trader’s Playbook reports featuring Converge ICT and MacroAsia Corporation.

To know more of what investors, companies, and consumers should expect in the Stock Market, economic sectors to watch out for in the following month, along with our Trader's Playbook picks, listen to this new episode from host and Research Analyst, Royce Aguilar in this podcast series.

Host and Research Analyst, Royce Aguilar is joined by Ser Percival Peña-Reyes, Ph.D., Associate Director at the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development, an professor and researcher with an extensive background in Economics. 

The two discuss economic highlights - restoring confidence amidst the pandemic, investors' concerns over the rising inflation, and the growth of the digital economy as the government continues to push through with community quarantines across the country. 

In this episode, we also touched on the country's debt profile and which sectors are on the verge of a strong rebound in the next months or quarter. Learn more in this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

In what seemed to be another month of a downtrend, the market managed to rebound on high volume in the last trading days of May.

In this episode, we took the opportunity to talk about what happened in the market in the month of May and what we should watch out for in June as we reach the first half of the year. We'll also talk about our long-term picks and our two additional buy picks for our listeners. And of course, we have more Trader's Playbook picks that you would like to highlight so tune in!

Learn more in this month's wrap-up episode of podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

In the recent trends, we've seen how retail participation has flourished, particularly in the Philippine Stock Exchange. As of January 2021, over 50% of value turnover were trades made by local investors. Going to this topic, along with the rapidly changing markets we've seen, many high-returning blockchain cryptocurrency-related assets have increased in value.

That blockchain technology is what backs the decentralized system that enables the existence of cryptocurrency (among other things). Now, what is blockchain?

In this episode, Royce Aguilar is joined by Miguel Cuneta— to talk about that grey area which is blockchain, its benefits and drawbacks, and the adoption of its technology in the global and local scenes.

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

In our monthly wrap-up episode, we talked about what happened in April 2021, digging deeper into the situation of the market, covering both the fundamental and technical analyses perspective. We also added some noteworthy topics to discuss, such as the details for Filinvest REIT (FILRT) and AC Energy Corp.'s follow-on offering (FOO). Join Royce Aguilar, host and Equity Research Analyst, as he wraps up the month of April along with our long-term picks and our Trader's Playbook picks in this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst 

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

Retail participation expanded when the pandemic started and it continues to do so as this pandemic has created an army of cash-rich individual investors, aggressively chasing yields in the Philippine stock market.

In this episode, we're talking about those who are taking it to the next level. Several people have started their own fund management team, which is why we invited a guest to talk about portfolio management.

With a decade of experience in stock trading, not only in the Philippines but also in the US, Aaron Say is the most credible resource person to discuss about portfolio management, its different types, and the key elements. He is a Chartered Market Technician and is First Metro Sec’s market consultant. Listen in as we discuss all you need to know about portfolio management in this episode of our podcast series. 

#YourFutureFirst

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

In the month of March, the PSEi went down 5.2%. This was expected as the COVID-19 cases continue to rise as high as over 10,000 new cases as of March 29. Lockdowns and mobility restrictions weighed heavily on investor's sentiment which made the market go lower. Though this might be disheartening for most, despite the announcement of further restrictions last 29 Mar 2020, the market actually went up by nearly 1% because Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed the CREATE bill into law.

Join Royce Aguilar, host and Equity Research Analyst, as he discusses how the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) pushed the market forward, alongside the team's long-term picks and Trader's Playbook calls in this episode of FirstMetroSec's podcast series. Webinar originally aired on March 30. Watch it full here: https://youtu.be/7UQ5OoDRdso

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the need to protect our physical health as well as our financial well-being. There's a lot to be done and a lot we can do to protect our dreams and prepare ourselves to live the life we deserve. So in this episode, Royce Aguilar is joined by Floi Wycoco, Founder and President of The Global Filipino Investors. 

The two discuss the importance of financial literacy, the behavior of Filipino in saving and investments, general financial advice for young millennials, what do to next after financial adversities, and knowing the kind of investment that works best for you. 

Learn more about the pivotal role of financial education in this week's episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

The pandemic may have forced a lot of people to work, study, and stay at home but it also encouraged people to connect more and explore opportunities through the internet, and that includes the stock market. Pandemic-fueled market volatility brought new investors into the world of stocks which includes those who are doing it for the first time. And recently, local retail and institutional investors have been dominating the stock market.

In this episode, Royce Aguilar is joined in by Marvin Germo, CEO of Stock Smarts, a stock trader and investor, bestselling author, personal financial consultant and international keynote speaker. The two discussed a diversity of topics - influence of retail investors, cryptocurrencies, investment allocation, short-selling, just to name a few. Take your share of investing and trading advices and find out more on this episode of our podcast series.

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

As the year 2020 inches to a close, we take a look back at the major events that made the market go down and what supported it this year. Starting from the Phase 1 trade deal between US and China to the threat of a global pandemic, the research team at First Metro Sec narrows down the catalysts and the risks in the last episode of our weekly podcast series for this year. #YourFutureFirst

This week, we're going to find out all the fuss about the Santa Claus Rally. By definition, a Santa Claus rally describes the sustaining increase in stock market prices that occurs in the last week of December til the early days of January. What could be the reasons behind this certain stock market effect? Is it aligned with the optimism into the holiday spirit? What investment strategy should you maintain or apply during this period? Find out more in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

In this week's episode, the Research Team at FirstMetroSec tracks down the updates on the latest vaccines and why it's important to talk about it now considering how it might affect global markets in the coming weeks. The top three vaccine candidates: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca might actually spur the rally in the month of December. These could be the positive catalyst of what we call the Santa Claus rally.

Find out more in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

All the 30 index names in the PSEi have already reported their 9 months earnings results. In this episode, the Research Team at FirstMetroSec takes a look at each sector and their performance to see which companies are improving. Although most of their year-on-year performance are mostly down, signs of recovery are showing on their quarter-on-quarter performance as the market goes up - owing to the gradual reopening and better expectations in the fourth quarter as the holiday season approaches.

Be informed of these corporate earnings in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

This week, we talk about stock rights offerings (SRO) and how it works. By definition, SRO's are a group of rights offered to existing shareholders to purchase additional stock shares known as subscription warrants.

The Research Team at FirstMetroSec goes into detail on why companies issue SRO's, its advantages and disadvantages, and what happens if you subscribe in full, ignore your rights, or when you sell the rights to someone else.

Along with that, this episode also discusses what's next for Ayala-owned AC Energy Philippines Inc. as the company is expected to release further details of its SRO. Find out more in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Last weekend, we heard that Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden is the apparent winner in the US Presidential elections as forecasted by several news media and several polls. He then became president-elect after winning in Pennsylvania and reaching 270 electoral votes against incumbent president Donald Trump.

As the US approaches the next administration, the Research Department at FirstMetroSec takes a look to what is at stake for governments around the world and how it would affect the United States, Britain, the Middle East, and Asia — only here at our weekly podcast series. 

#YourFutureFirst

Aside from our weekly summary outlook and picks for the PSEi, this episode also discusses all the things you need to know about renewable energy as Philippines turns its focus onto it. Last week, the Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said that there's a moratorium on new coal power plant projects. Along with that, large-scale geothermal projects are allowed full foreign ownership. In the modern world, lack of proper energy infrastructure is one of the major factors that can hinder a developing country's economic development. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

As the economy continues to thrive in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Research Team at FirstMetroSec team identifies which stocks are undervalued and which of these can be the faster horse in the coming weeks or in the next few months. Under the guidance of the stock screen, we identify what stocks are under value play — stocks that have low price-to-book yet high return on equity — and unloved value stocks which generate high earnings but underrated by the market. If you're an investor who likes to buy these undervalued stocks, listen now to find out more about these undervalued stocks and what could rally them ahead in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

President Duterte’s decision to lift the oil exploration moratorium came about with the impending depletion of our natural gas reserves in Malampaya. The Department of Energy (DOE) issued a “resume-to-work” notice to select companies, allowing them begin petroleum-related activities in certain areas within the West Philippine Sea. Oil exploration stocks surged and hit price ceiling after said news, and one of the biggest beneficiaries is PXP Energy Corp. whose shares jumped by nearly 50% on Friday. Learn more about the which companies benefit from the lifting of the moratorium on our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

This week, we are shifting our focus to the current political climate in the U.S. With the upcoming presidential election closing in, Wall Street investors are weighing the pros and cons of a Trump vs. Biden presidency. No matter the outcome, the next administration will have to take on the responsibilities of COVID-19 response and the ongoing economic recession. Given that market trends will depend on which political party ends up with control over the Senate and the House of Representatives, we explore various scenarios that could either be favorable or harmful to global markets. Find out more about analysts' predictions on our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

As the National Te­lecommunications Com­mission (NTC) grants NOW Telecom an exte­nsion of its provisi­onal authority to in­stall, operate, and maintain a nationwide mobile telecommuni­cations system, the corporation is now looking to position itself as the country­’s fourth major tele­communications playe­r. As such, this wee­k’s episode focuses on the business of NOW Corporation (NOW), their earnings allocation and latest news or updates from their end. Learn more about NOW's services and business programs by keeping up with our weekly podcast ser­ies. #YourFutureFirs­t​

For this episode, we are capping off our two-part series on corporate briefings—this time, taking a look at infrastructure, utilities, telecommunications and holding companies. As business operations resume and quarantine restrictions continue to ease, some companies are able to bounce back to pre-COVID conditions while others are still expecting a better performance for the second half of the year. We talk about which factors hinder or support implementation of company projects and what effect digitalization has on our industries. Be well-guided with recent trends and strategies by tuning in to our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

On this week's episode, join us for a two-part series on what the corporates from various sectors are saying – delving into the manufacturing, retail, properties and financial industries. The Research Team at FirstMetroSec compiled information from several corporate briefings regarding trends and improvements companies are seeing in the latter part of the second quarter. Find out the latest strategies of these resilient companies and grab a trading idea or two on this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Every publicly traded company has a number of stocks or shares that make up its total value. When a company splits its shares, its total value does not change but it ends up with more stocks at a cheaper cost. But why would companies do this? Find out what stock splits are (with global and local companies as examples) and how it’s different to stock dividends in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

For this episode, we get a little scientific as we discuss the top coronavirus vaccines to watch right now. The pandemic may have brought the world to a halt but that encouraged many governments, scientists, and researchers to double the development of the long-awaited vaccine — faster than they did for the mumps vaccine which took 4 years to develop. Learn how the top scientific institutions across the globe develop what may be our only hope to stopping the virus in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Different companies from different sectors have released their earnings for the first half of 2020. Our Research Team recites the first half corporate earnings from the PSEi.  In this episode of our podcast series, find out this week's summary outlook of the PSEi, our stock picks, and why some companies were able to thrive in the market despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. #YourFutureFirst

Did you know that the Philippines is currently the biggest exporter of nickel? Following virus-driven lows, nickel prices have been rebounding mainly because of countries like China, the biggest consumer of nickel, where stainless steel will continue to dominate the demand side of this metal throughout the decade. Learn more on why nickel deserves the spotlight - an overview of the its performance in the 1st half and what's next for the industry in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Closing at 2000 USD an ounce for the first time earlier this month, gold capped an explosive growth spurt that has blown past analyst projections. In this episode, the Research Department at FirstMetroSec delivers 5 reasons why gold is rallying. Find out which stocks are affected by gold prices here in the Philippines in this episode of our weekly podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

The US currency has been falling steadily ever since the world has recovered a bit from the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis. Despite this, the Philippine Peso surprisingly emerges as one of the top performing currencies in Asia. In this episode, we will discuss the enduring strength of the Philippine Peso, the weakness of the US Dollar, and why we should watch out for the risks facing the currencies’ status quo with the pandemic at play. #YourFutureFirst

Also known as the Hungry Ghost Month, August is the 7th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar where rituals and superstitions are observed to counter bad luck. The Research Department of FirstMetroSec states the facts behind this tradition and highlights how it can be more of an opportunity than a threat to investors out there.  So, what should we really watch out for this August? Catch up on our weekly summary outlook and picks for the week in this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst 

Many corporates are unsure of the market condition with this pandemic but some of them remain optimistic of business recovery. The management teams of corporations have shared their thoughts about the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects on their core businesses. and how their companies are navigating the new landscape. Find out what the Research Team at FirstMetroSec have compiled from several listing companies in this episode of the Philippine Stock Market Weekly Podcast. #YourFutureFirst

Take a closer look at the Philippine's first and highly anticipated Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in our discussion of the definition and qualifications of a REIT, the rules and regulations set by the SEC, and the pioneer player, the Ayala REIT. Is it worth investing in? Learn more about this elemental step in Philippine investment by listening to this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

Get to know how Converge ICT came to be a promising company than what most have expected. The tech giant’s feats just keep on coming – starting from 6,000 residential subscriptions in 2016 to a whopping 330,000 subscribers as of 2019, and even setting one of the biggest listings in the Philippines with a record-breaking ₱35.9-B ($726-M) IPO! Find out more about the Converge on this episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

On this episode of the Philippine Stock Market Weekly Podcast, our Research Department dissects the facts from fiction on PH's third telco player, DITO Telecom. Learn why it dropped by more than 16% last week alone, making it one of the most controversial stocks today. Does an increase on the capital stock showing on the company's balance sheet bear good news? Find out more on the 10th episode of our podcast series. #YourFutureFirst

On this episode of our Weekly Stock Market Podcast Series with our Research Department, learn the reasons why listing through the Initial public offering (IPO) process proves to be "costly" for some companies. Get to know how the Philippine Stock Exchange offers an alternative method of going public through Listing by introduction, and a breakdown of its benefits and drawbacks. #YourFutureFirst

Get first dibs on our trading ideas for this week and for our third epsiode’s special discussion, let’s breakdown the tale of the two water concessionaires, on where the water privatization issue is headed to, and how you can be guided as an investor of these companies as the story continues to unfold. #YourFutureFirst

Learn about the drastic impact of the pandemic on the global economy and the PH stock market, understand the developments on oil markets and know our view on certain stocks and sectors moving forward amidst the COVID-19 crisis as we kickstart the very first episode of the Weekly Stock Market Podcast Series with Royce Aguilar from the Research Department.