MANILA/SINGAPORE: The Philippine Stock Exchange closed indefinitely on Tuesday while currency and bond trading were suspended, the first market shutdowns worldwide in response to the coronavirus, with authorities citing risks to the safety of traders.
The shutdown comes after some bourses around the world closed trading floors or paused trade after withering falls in market value, but it is the first blanket market halt.
And while it was done for health reasons, amid a broad lockdown in the Philippines, it raises the prospect other exchanges may follow and has drawn analysts’ attention.
“Given the unprecedented speed of the slump in equity prices, it has been suggested that stock exchanges might be closed soon if things don’t turn around,” research house Capital Economics said in a note on Tuesday.
AdMacro research head Patrick Perret-Green had also raised the possibility in a note issued over the weekend, before the Philippines move.
“We have seen it before. I believe we could see it again,” he said. “Governments do not need or want the added stress and distraction at this time.”
The Philippine Stock Exchange said trade was suspended until further notice “to ensure the safety of employees and traders,” amid a broader national lockdown.
National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon cited the lockdown as the reason for the suspension of fixed income trade. Currency trading is to resume on March 18.
In Malaysia, where a similar lockdown comes into force on March 18, the securities regulator said all capital markets will operate as usual.
CME Group Inc. last week shut its storied trading floor in Chicago, to reduce large gatherings, and Mideast bourses have taken similar measures, though electronic trade remains available.
Kuwait’s exchange has suspended trade at least twice this month, after daily falls of more than 10 percent, while in Indonesia, Jakarta’s bourse has introduced new circuit breakers which halt trading for half an hour if the main index falls 5 percent.
That comes amid a swathe of short-selling restrictions in markets from South Korea to Italy and Spain.
Capital Economics, however, said closures are ineffective at salving investor sentiment. The consultancy expects — as in the Philippines — health reasons to be invoked should other bourses shut.
“On the rare occasions when stock markets have been shut in the US in the past, it has usually only been for practical reasons, such as after 9/11, rather than as means of trying to restore confidence ... (It) might not work in any case.
“Investors might end up selling anything else they could if they needed to raise cash in a hurry.”
Global markets are in meltdown as the pandemic spreads, with roughly $14 trillion in shareholder value erased and even safe assets such as gold have been sold to cover losses.
The Philippines benchmark index fell 8 percent on Monday and is down 20 percent for March so far, already its worst since October 2008.
“Eventually they will open,” said Mathan Somasundaram, market portfolio strategist at stockbroker Blue Ocean Equities in Sydney.
Philippines first country to suspend all financial markets as coronavirus spreads
https://arab.news/c2rcf
Philippines first country to suspend all financial markets as coronavirus spreads
- Shutdown comes after some bourses around the world closed trading floors or paused trade
- Raises the prospect other exchanges may follow
Saudi PIF executes 10 investment deals in MENA markets, says official
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has executed more than 10 investment deals across several markets in the Middle East and North Africa over the past two years, according to Muteb Al-Shathri, head of PIF’s Securities Investments Private Equity Section, who described the returns as “rewarding.”
Al-Shathri said these markets included Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman, noting that the search for opportunities continues through collaboration with the fund’s public and private sector partners, provided a suitable investment climate exists in other regional markets.
He added that the launch of the fund’s regional investment companies reflects the attractiveness and promising opportunities in the MENA region — among the fastest-growing markets globally — while also aiming to strengthen the PIF’s investment partnerships, those of its portfolio companies, and Saudi private sector engagement with targeted regional markets.
This approach, he added, supports the development of long-term strategic economic partnerships to achieve sustainable returns, enhance the fund’s assets, and diversify Saudi Arabia’s revenue sources in line with Vision 2030 objectives.
Al-Shathri said: “The PIF’s recent regional activities are fully aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy.”
The regional investment companies also enable the Saudi private sector to expand its investment footprint across MENA, creating strategic economic collaboration opportunities with private sector players in target markets, while supporting the growth and diversification of the Saudi economy.
Regarding the scale of the deals, Al-Shathri noted that some were announced as private acquisitions, while many of the companies PIF invested in are now publicly traded, adding that comparing share prices at the time of entry with current levels demonstrates strong returns.
According to Al-Shathri, PIF has established offices for its regional investment companies in four key markets — Cairo, Manama, Amman, and Muscat — bringing together the fund’s investment expertise alongside national talent from each country.
“These offices, set up more than two years ago, have been pivotal in identifying suitable opportunities and helping PIF’s companies and the Saudi private sector enter these markets,” he said.
He further said that over the past two years, they have completed more than 10 investment deals across a range of companies and new projects, all of which have seen growth in size, scope, revenues, and profits.
On the performance of regional companies, he explained that activity levels vary depending on market conditions, but operations and asset management continue, adding that the Egyptian market remains one of the largest, with many high-performing companies present.
Highlighting key investments, Al-Shathri pointed to PIF’s 2021 investment in ADES, a well-known oil well drilling company that was traded on the London market before being taken private for two years and later publicly listed. ADES recently signed an agreement with the Syrian Petroleum Co. to develop oil and gas fields and operates in over 20 countries across four continents.
Diverse and promising acquisitions
Al-Shathri detailed specific market investments, beginning with the Saudi-Egyptian Investment Co., which initially acquired stakes in three private-sector companies: B.Tech, a leading electronics and home appliance distributor; CERA Group, the largest private education provider in Egypt; and Cleopatra Hospitals Group.
The company also invested in four public-sector entities: Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals Industries Co., Misr Fertilizers Production Co., e-Finance for financial and digital investments, and Alexandria Container & Cargo Handling Co., the latter of which was recently fully divested.
The Saudi-Jordanian Investment Co. invested in three promising Jordanian firms: Opensooq platform, Capital Bank Group, and Al-Youm Bakery, and announced a major project in healthcare and medical education — the Kingdom Healthcare and Medical Education Project.
The Saudi-Bahraini Investment Co. recently signed an agreement with Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, to enhance cooperation and investment in strategic sectors. This follows a memorandum of understanding between PIF and Mumtalakat in March 2024 to expand collaboration opportunities.
Al-Shathri added that the Saudi-Omani Investment Co. acquired a 9.8 percent stake in Abraj Energy Services, 3.75 percent in OQ Basic Industries, and 4.9 percent in OQ Oman Gas Networks, for a total investment of $163 million. The company also signed an MoU with the Oman Investment Authority to expand cooperation and support new investment opportunities in the sultanate.
Investment based on clear principles
Al-Shathri emphasized that PIF establishes companies based on strict investment criteria, aiming for sustainable returns in line with calculated risk levels, stressing that returns are received as expected.
“Our investment policy is open to all sectors in every market, though each market has its own competitive advantages,” he said.
He added: “We always target quality investments with rewarding, sustainable returns while creating positive social and economic impact in each market.”
Ongoing market monitoring and research
As for future announcements, Al-Shathri said: “We are constantly monitoring the markets and have a team of experts at the fund working in the research sector. If we identify opportunities in other markets, they will be presented in line with PIF’s standard procedures.”
He added that the fund always pays close attention to the capabilities of the company and other shareholders, “ensuring they are of a very high standard not just in terms of the company’s financial value, because financial value can only be preserved and grown by strong management and partners.”
Domestic focus and strategic partnerships
Regarding the Saudi economy, Al-Shathri said that domestic matters are a priority for the PIF, especially since Saudi Arabia has the largest economy in the region.
He added: “We are always keen to allocate most of our investments within Saudi Arabia and attract investment funds to the country.”
Recently, the fund closed a deal between a consortium of BlackRock investors and Saudi Aramco in the Al-Jafurah field. It is worth noting that BlackRock’s infrastructure investments in Saudi Arabia exceed $20 billion, according to previous announcements.
On the key companies targeted by the fund, Al-Shathri said some will be announced soon, emphasizing that PIF’s strategy is clear: to seek high-growth companies that serve the fund’s objectives and align with Vision 2030 goals.
He pointed out that the fund engages with numerous companies that see significant value in partnering with it, adding that PIF’s efforts go beyond launching investment opportunities and providing regional expansion capabilities, emphasizing that they also include contributing to the companies’ growth, improving governance, and enhancing prospects for public listing.
