“We really have to bring back that confidence, we really need to see that investors would like to pick up stocks again, which in turn would entice our companies to raise funds again through the stock market,” Tantiangco explained. Without any need for expansion, then there won’t be need to raise funds, especially in the equity market,” Tantiangco continued. Managing Director Luis Limlingan, in an online interview, said market sentiment towards the local IPO market is contingent on developments to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Tantiangco, raising capital in the equity market has been discouraging this year, given the current economic situation and the low confidence in the market. He added that the present low level of interest rates makes raising funds in the debt market more enticing than in the equity market.

Source: Manila Times December 28, 2020 16:18 UTC