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As far as emerging markets go, the Philippines is seldom the choice investment destination, but one analyst says the Southeast Asian nation could well become the "dark horse" of the region, thanks to its favorable demographics and sound economic fundamentals.
The Philippine's "very robust and young population" presents a ready pool of talent, says Mark Matthews, Head of Research Asia at Bank Julius Baer. He expects the country's population of 93 million, around half of whom are below 20 years old, to more than double to 190 million by 2040.
With fertility rates declining in the West and in Asian countries like Japan, Korea and China, the Philippines will increasingly become an important source of immigrant labor, he added.
"And the interesting thing is 80 percent of them speak English," Matthews said. "Most people who speak English in third world countries, they don't want to go overseas to work in sort of manual labor. But the Filipinos have no problem doing it...and they are making three times as much as they are making back at home, and they are sending it back home."
The Philippines is already one of the world's biggest recipients of remittances - the fourth biggest in 2010 according to the World Bank - which account for a tenth of the country's gross national product. According to the country's central bank, monthly remittances hit a record high of $1.7 billion in September with total remittances for the year expected at $20 billion.
The country remains in an enviable position fiscal-wise. Last year, for the first time in history, the Philippines' gross international reserves eclipsed its external debt level, making it a "creditor" nation, according to a report by Bank Julius Baer. The country is expected to end the year with a record $76 billion in foreign reserves, which is part of the reason why ratings agency Fitch upgraded the country's credit rating to BB+ from BB in June, just one notch below investment grade and on par with Indonesia.
And with a debt-to-GDP ratio among the lowest in Asia at under 50 percent, the Philippines is one of the most under-geared countries in the world, which makes it a less risky bet for investors. "That means it will no longer be 'another domino' in times of crisis," the Bank Julius Baer noted.
Despite being one of the best performing stock markets in Asia this year, with gains of over 3 percent, compared to double-digit percentage losses in China, Japan and Singapore," Bank Julius Baer says the market is still attractive on a valuation basis.
"The market is not expensive on 14.5x 2011 and 12.5x 2012 P/E, versus an average over the past 15 years of 12.5x," the bank noted.
The bank is not alone in its bullish view of the Philippines. A recent survey by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch showed fund managers increasing their overweight position in the country, making it the third most preferred market, trailing China and Indonesia.
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/Invest-in-Philippines-the-cnbc-1516318407.html
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Makati condo project eyed to bring in P1.4B for ALI
LISTED property developer Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) expects to generate around P1.4 billion in sales from its latest Lerato Tower 2 condominium in Makati City on top of P1.6 billion it aims to bag from the project's nearly sold-out first phase, an official said.
The firm is infusing P1 billion for the construction of the second tower, lower than the P1.4 billion for the first building, Aris C. Gonzales, project development manager of Ayala Land subsidiary Alveo Land Corp., said at a briefing yesterday.
The 24-floor second tower will house 360 units to be sold at an average of P115,000 per square meter (sq m.).
Prices will range from P3 million to P4 million for the 30-31 sq m. studio units, P5 million to P6 million for the 48-54 sq m. one-bedroom units and P8 million to P10 million for the 78-85 sq m. two-bedroom units.
Mr. Gonzales said the excavation for both towers located at the business district of Makati is ongoing.
Already, 91% of Lerato Tower 1 units have been sold out, he said.
Alveo Land expects Tower 2 to fare well in sales, like the first tower, which had an average selling rate of 35 units per month.
"The turnover for Tower 1 will be on the third quarter of 2015, while for Tower 2 it will be on the third quarter of 2016," he added.
Mr. Gonzales also conveyed that Alveo Land is looking to launch another condominium project within the year which will be located in Legaspi Village, Makati City.
However, he declined to elaborate, saying the project is still under initial planning.
Aside from condominium units, Ayala Land earlier announced its venture on socialized housing by making a new subsidiary that will handle its first project in General Trias, Cavite on the 10-hectare lot owned by the firm.
The firm said the creation of its fifth brand Buena Vida was touted to cater to the low-end market, offering lot packages amounting to around P400,000 and trimmed downpayment of 5% from 10%.
The property developer currently operates four residential brands:
luxury Ayala Land Premier, upper- and middle-income Alveo, affordable Avida, and mass housing Amaia.
Ayala Land's net income in the first semester surged by 35.46% to P3.87 billion from P2.87 billion of the same period last year.
Ayala Land shares slipped by 2.02% yesterday to close at P15.50 per share from the previous day.
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Bautista, Pangasinan
-
Announcing a price reduction
on Bautista, Pangasinan, a 3,819 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm single story. Now
MLS®
$116,279 USD
- P5M.
Property information
-
Published on Thursday, September 8, 2011, 10:46 AM
Last Update: 6 hour(s) ago by
Van Deeb
The
following four ways to do more business without spending more money may
seem simple and easy to accomplish, yet over 97% of us don’t do these
things. Yes, we’ve read about these strategies in motivational,
inspirational self-help articles and thought about doing them, but we
still don’t do them. My challenge for you today is not just to read this
list but actually print it out and do what it says! THEN, after you
have experienced the incredible results that I know you will, please
email me about how these four ways have produced more business for you
without requiring you to spend more money. I will feature your triumphs
in a future newsletter. Here they are:
1. Tell more people what you do for a living.
If
you don’t tell people about what you do for a living, then you are
basically keeping it a secretand guess what—it will remain a secret.
People in business who don’t talk about what they do are usually broke,
they don’t stay in business very long, or they make very few sales. Why?
Because they keep their business a secret! Not only do you need to tell
everyone over and over again what you do for a living, but you also
need to ask them to do business with you. People want to help people who
ask for their business. It’s not that difficult. When was the last time
you asked someone to do business with you? If your answer is anything
other than “Every day...all day,” then start doing it. Ask more people
to do business with you and you will do more business without spending
more money.
2. Stretch your business day.
Add
30 minutes to each business day and then gradually stretch it to an
hour if you can. Either start work 15 minutes earlier and stay 15
minutes later, or take a shorter break or lunch hour. Spend less time
visiting unproductive social websites that have absolutely no benefit to
your career. If you really want to make your business day more
productive, you may not have to add any time at all and may even work
less hours if you are willing to pick one average day and keep a journal
on your desk and document everything you do and how long it takes you
to do it. This is one of the most effective ways I know to figure out
how much time you are spending in certain areas. You will have to be
your own best critic and make adjustments accordingly. You might be
surprised how much time you spend doing unproductive things, which could
be time better spent doing more business without spending more money.
3. Quit complaining.
You
may ask what complaining has to do with doing more business without
spending more money. Complaining takes time, it depletes your energy,
and it is most definitely unproductive, which ends up costing you money.
Where does it say in any manual that complaining is a positive business
characteristic? It doesn’t, and not only will it make you less
productive but it will also bring down the people around you. I know
complaining is part of human nature, but we all have the ability to
complain less, especially if we are trying to be more productive in our
careers. If you are a complainer, work to eliminate this habit because
it could end up costing you business. No one likes to be around a
complainer. Use the time you spend complaining to do more business
without spending more money.
4. Schedule time to accomplish everything on your “to do” list.
Most
of us motivated business types have a “to do” list of things that we
want to accomplish the next day or week. To get results, you have to
turn your “to do” list into a series of appointments. Take each item or
task and write it into your calendar as a scheduled appointment, just as
you would do with anything else. I have been guilty of having a “to do”
list that just kept getting transferred to a new list. When I started
making each task into a scheduled appointment, I actually would get it
done and see it through. The more tasks you can cross off your “to do”
list, the more business you can do without spending more money.
I
consider myself a “Common Sense Expert” in helping you grow your
business. I built my business with low overhead and minimal
infrastructure, which resulted in high profit and big smiles. I can help
you create this type of mindset either by consultation or workshops
with your key staff. I will give you the same advice and strategies that
I used myself. Call me on my direct line at 402-680-8448 or email me at
van@vandeeb.com
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Global City, Taguig
- Avida Towers Global City, a 411 sq. ft., 1 bath, 1 bdrm single story. Now
MLS®
$85,418 USD
- P3.673M.
Property information
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Paranaque City
-
Announcing a price reduction
on Avida Towers Sucat, a 360 sq. ft., 1 bath, 1 bdrm single story. Now
MLS®
$56,744 USD
- P2.44M.
Property information
-
Avida Towers Centera, a 241 sq. ft., 1 bath single story. Now
MLS®
$42,581 USD
- P1.831M.
Property information
-
A $150-million Trump Tower Manila will be built by real estate developer Century Properties in Makati City.
Century City Development Corp., a unit of Century Properties, will be
developing the luxury residential skyscraper with the brand name and
mark under license from American real estate mogul Donald J. Trump.
“In discussing this project with (daughter) Ivanka, we felt that
Manila would be a strong market for the Trump brand. It is one of Asia’s
most important cities and Manila’s sophisticated clientele really
appreciates luxury… We were confident that (Century Properties) would be
a terrific group to develop an outstanding luxury residential building
and brand it with our name,” Trump told The Star.
Trump, who signed the licensing deal in New York with Century
Properties chairman Jose E.B. Antonio, said Trump Tower Manila will be
‘spectacular and there will be nothing like it in the Philippines or
beyond.’
Trump is one of the most high-profile businessmen in the US, thanks to
his real estate business, extravagant lifestyle, the hit reality show
“The Apprentice” and an aborted campaign to run for President.
Century Properties, which recently brought American celebrity and
socialite Paris Hilton to Manila to promote and design The Azure Beach
Club, is quite confident about its new Trump-branded residential
project.
“There is never a more opportune time than today to launch Trump
Tower Manila, which is perhaps the country’s most powerful symbol of
progress and readiness to compete on the world stage. This project
celebrates achievement, power, modern grandeur, and an unparalleled kind
of lifestyle that is on a class of its own,” said Century Properties
managing director Robbie R. Antonio.
Trump Tower Manila will have over 220 units, and at 250 meters will
be one of the Philippines’ tallest buildings. It will be built at the
3.4-hectare Century City, the flagship mixed-use development of Century
Properties in Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.
The licensing deal came about as a result of the young Antonio’s
meetings with Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who is vice-president for
development and acquisitions at The Trump Organization.
“I met Ivanka Trump in New York several years ago,” said the young
Antonio. “A friendship developed with her and the rest of the family. In
our meetings, we discussed a licensing deal and consequently, Trump
Tower Manila was conceived.”
The Trump Tower Manila showroom is scheduled to open in early 2012
but the company said unit reservations have started this month.
Century Properties said there will be a limited number of units, which will be priced “competitively”.
Suites will be approximately 57 sqm (613 square feet) and 1 to
4-bedrooms and penthouses at approximately 425 sqm (4,574 square feet).
“We expect that the market will quickly seize each one of these over
220 units-a very rare and limited number for those on the lookout for
world-class property the world over,” Antonio said.
The Trump Organization has over 70 properties, owned or branded,
built or under construction worldwide, ranging from residential
condominiums, golf courses and mixed-use properties.
“One of our company’s primary objectives is bringing our brand and
the luxury associated with the Trump name into the international arena.
The Philippines offers incredible opportunity given the tremendous
wealth in the region. This project will set the new standard in the
Philippines and beyond,” said executive vice president of development
and acquisitions Eric Trump.
http://www.livetradingnews.com
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Mining Boom Immanent
The Philippines will attract $18 billion in mining investments over the next five years as global commodity prices soar.
Mining output had already spiked 31 percent year on year in the six
months to June to P63.92 billion ($1.48 billion), according to
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje.
A new mining law allowed foreign investments in 2005, and high metals prices were drawing even more investor interest.
“In terms of investments, the aggregate amount of $3.835 billion has
been invested in the sector over the last six years. Total investments
are projected to reach $18 billion by 2016,” he told a mining conference
in September 2011.
The Philippines has an untouched mineral wealth estimated by
Heffernan Capital Management at over $1 trillion, valuable metals like
copper, gold and chromate deposits are among the biggest in the world.
Mining has had a checkered history in The Philippines, environmental
issues, foreign investment restrictions, and accidents have slowed the
industry for decades.
Find out more about trading stocks in Asia, Click Here
Ramon Paje said with just 30 major mines in operation, the
Philippines was still not producing enough to take advantage of climbing
gold, nickel, copper, iron and chromite prices.
Seven major projects should boost both mining investment and output over the next few years.
Xstrata PLC, LON:XTA $5.9 billion Tampakan project in the southern
Philippines, one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in the
Western Pacific, should start producing in 2016.
Tampakan project is estimated to yield an average of 375,000 tonnes
per annum of copper and 360,000 ounces per annum of gold in concentrate
over a 17 year life of mine.
Japan’s Sumitomo Metals, Australia’s Oceana Gold, and Britain’s FCF
Minerals also plan to go ahead with separate nickel, copper-gold, and
gold-molybdenum projects, according to Paje.
The three projects have a combined investment value of more than $1.8 billion.
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines president Philip Romualdez also
told the conference President Benigno Aquino’s recent state visit to
China drew $2 billion in mining commitments.
Economy
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has slightly lowered its 2011 growth
forecast for the Philippine economy amidst subdued government spending
and exports, but increased public and private investment should see a
pickup in economic activity next year.
In its latest Asian Development Outlook 2011 (ADO), ADB trimmed its
gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the year to 4.7%, from 5.0%
seen in April.
Growth for 2012 is projected to pick up to 5.1%, with brighter
prospects seen for investments, which since 2010 have been a major
contributor to GDP growth.
“Job creation remains lackluster, with the youth unemployment rate
more than double the overall jobless rate,” said ADB Chief Economist
Changyong Rhee.
“Further increases in investment along with policy and governance reforms are needed to boost jobs.”
Government spending fell back in the first half of 2011 after high
election and typhoon-linked outlays in 2010 with government agencies
taking a more cautious stance amidst an anti-corruption drive.
However, private investment grew strongly, while private domestic
consumption also increased, supported by a firmer labor market and
remittances from overseas workers.
Merchandise export growth, in contrast, was weaker than expected.
Electronics, which make up about half the economy’s exports, are still
affected by insipid global demand and supply chain disruptions linked to
the earthquake in Japan.
Inflation averaged 4.8% over the first eight months, driven by higher
food and oil prices. In response, the central bank raised policy
interest rates and banks’ reserve requirements twice. Net portfolio
investments in the first seven months remained high, helping to push
stock prices to record highs in August, but foreign direct investment
remains subdued with delays in bids for planned infrastructure projects.
For 2012, increased investment supported by upgrades in sovereign
credit ratings and resilient consumer spending will help GDP growth to
pick up. Inflation forecasts are retained at 4.9% for 2011 and 4.3% in
2012, assuming that global oil and food prices moderate as expected.
“The Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 focuses on improvements in
the business environment to raise investment and employment with higher
outlays on infrastructure supported by public-private partnerships,”
said Neeraj Jain, Country Director for ADB’s Philippines Country Office.
‘Some of the public-private partnership infrastructure projects that
have been planned must get under way to achieve the growth we forecast
for 2012.”
Real Estate
Foreign investors looking to invest in real estate-related businesses
have ranked Manila as their last choice among various key cities in the
Asia-Pacific.
According to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2011
survey conducted by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), global real estate
investors gave Manila a score of 4.56 points out of a possible 9,
placing the city a few points below “fair” and somewhere within the
realms of “abysmal.”
http://www.livetradingnews.com
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Edsa , Mandaluyong
-
Avida Towers Centera, a 385 sq. ft., 1 bath, 1 bdrm single story. Now
MLS®
$75,139 USD
- P3.231M.
Property information
-
Pangasinan, Philippines
-
Announcing a price reduction
on 3060-Bautista, Pangasinan, a 7,510 sq. ft., 2 bath, 2 bdrm 2 story. Now
$90,697 USD
- P3.9M Neg Vallued Priced.
Property information
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Rockwell Center, Rockwell
-
The single story at 3131-One Rockwell East has been sold.
Property information
-
• 1,345 sq. ft., 1 bath, 2 bdrm single story
-
SOLD
$372,093 USD
- P16M neg
Rockwell Center, Rockwell
-
One Rockwell is designed by Miami-based architectural firm Arquitectonica, which has helped shape the skylines of New York, Chicago and San Francisco . This development features the country’s first Z-shaped unit, an innovation by local architect Pimentel Rodriguez, Simbulan & Partners, providing spectacular views from both sides of the building. The Glass House model unit beside the Power Plant Mall invites buyers to come and see the unique Z-Loft concept for themselves.
The East Tower , with its impressively sharp edges, offers a breathtaking 180-degree view and ten different sceneries. It reaches up 45 storeys, with the Sky Deck located at the 41st level. Another first in architectural designs in the country, the uniquely designed East Tower showcases the innovation that One Rockwell adheres to. Meanwhile, the West Tower with its curvilinear design perfectly complements the East Tower ’s sharp edges, as it is made up of two halves that seem to slide away from each other at the centre. Once completed, the West Tower of One Rockwell will be the tallest residential building in Rockwell Center , standing 55 storeys high.
A circular driveway bringing the two towers together will lead to One Rockwell’s lush garden outside the main lobby, only minutes away from a pocket retail area. The project is slated for completion in 2010. This signature project is definitely going to make Rockwell Center a truly spectacular address.
Property information
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Rockwell Center, Rockwell
-
The single story at 3137-One Rockwell East has been sold.
Property information
-
Rockwell Center, Rockwell
-
Announcing a price reduction
on 3137-One Rockwell East, a 1,345 sq. ft., 1 bath, 2 bdrm single story. Now
SOLD
$372,093 USD
- P16M neg.
Property information