Hot money swings to net outflow in March
DOLLAR RESERVES. A bank teller shows off dollar bills. Photo from AFP
MANILA, Philippines - Foreign portfolio investments or "hot money" swung to net outflow in March due to profit-taking in Philippine stocks, the central bank reported.
In a statement on Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said net portfolio investment outflow amounted to $395.14 million in March, a reversal of the $211.65 million net inflow in February and $183.74 million in March 2012.
It said gross inflows in March 2013 reached $2.334 billion, up 10% year on year, but outflows were higher at $2.729 billion.
The BSP attributed the outflows to "profit-taking" following the stock market's recent highs, and "continuing concerns about the euro zone."
In the first quarter, hot money registered net inflow of $1.086 billion, against only $464.45 million in the same quarter last year.
"The United Kingdom, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Luxembourg were the top 5 investor countries for the month," BSP said.
PH stocks
The central bank said investments in Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities were $2 billion in March.
This was on "news about robust corporate earnings" and "the relaxation of rules on foreign ownership" under a revised Securities and Exchange Commission draft order.
The main beneficiaries of these investments were:
- Holding firms - $510 million
- Property firms - $454 million
- Banks - $333 million
- Telecommunications firms - $185 million
- Food, beverage, and tobacco firms - $183 million
- Rappler.com
