|By Business Wire||
|September 4, 2012 09:00 PM EDT||
Liquidnet, the global institutional trading network, announced today that institutional investors can now trade securities listed in the Philippines through its platform, effective immediately. The launch, the 41st market globally for Liquidnet and the ninth market in Asia Pacific, follows the company’s aggressive global expansion into high-growth markets, increasing the number of investment opportunities available to more than 700 of the world’s leading asset management firms.
Lee Porter, Head of Asia Pacific for Liquidnet, said, “Liquidnet continues to expand our network into rapidly growing markets, like the Philippines, reflecting our continuing commitment to bring Members access to opportunities that can add greater potential to increase investment performance. The Philippine economy has shown strong growth as it benefits from rising domestic demand, cuts in interest rates and ongoing government reform.”
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rallied to a record in July and is among the best performing markets in Asia as the government announced a boost in spending and plans to seek $16 billion of investments. Since January, foreign investors have pumped more than $2.2bn into the market, according to Bloomberg. The Philippines first quarter GDP grew 6.4%, the fastest since 2010, while Standard & Poor's raised the country's debt rating to BB+, one notch below investment grade.
“There are 362 companies traded on the Philippine Stock Exchange today which increases the breadth of investment opportunities to over 85,000 securities that our Members around the world can access with one click,” Porter said.
The introduction of Philippine equities on the Liquidnet’s institutional trading network follows the successful launches in Indonesia and Malaysia, which have quickly become two of the region’s most actively traded markets, clearly signaling investor appetite for new opportunities.
Liquidnet is the global institutional trading network that connects equity investors with the liquidity they need– in size, at any time, from anywhere. We go beyond what the retail market can provide by defending and securing the integrity and the anonymity of the block trade. We do this while continuously looking for ways to bring in new sources of safe, actionable liquidity from asset management firms, exchanges, brokers and corporations. Since we launched in 2001, our ability to anticipate and meet institutional demand has allowed us to extend trading to 41 equity markets across five continents for asset management firms who collectively manage US$12.4 trillion. For more information on the Liquidnet community, its liquidity, block executions, and additional investment capabilities, visit www.liquidnet.com.
© 2012 Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Liquidnet, Inc. is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Liquidnet Europe Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK, is licensed by the Financial Services Board in South Africa, and is a member of the London Stock Exchange and a remote member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange. Liquidnet Canada Inc. is a member of IIROC and a member of Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Liquidnet Asia Limited is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission as a licensed dealer and a provider of automated trading services pursuant to the Securities and Futures Ordinance and is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Recognized Market Operator. Liquidnet Japan Inc. is regulated by the Financial Services Agency of Japan and is a member of JSDA/JIPF. Liquidnet Australia Pty Ltd. is a licensed corporation under the Corporations Act of Australia, AFSL number 312525, and is registered as an overseas company in New Zealand, number 2407809.