FTSE indices welcome five PH firms, see three others off
Five Philippine companies were included in the mid-, small- and micro-cap indices of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) in the Asia Pacific. This potentially allows them access to more international investors as improving macroeconomic conditions boost sentiment.
The FTSE’s indices are used as a benchmark by global institutional investors and fund managers to assist in making investment decisions.
Based on the September 2025 semiannual review of the FTSE, Security Bank Corp. and Manila Water Co. Inc. were added to the FTSE Asia Pacific Small Cap Index.
They join over 5,800 stocks across the region with a combined market capitalization of around $7 trillion.
Also, Aboitiz Power Corp. was added to the Mid Cap Index, while Century Properties Group Inc. (CPG) and Cosco Capital Inc. were added to the Micro Cap Index.
Meanwhile, First Gen Corp. was removed from the Small Cap Index while Megawide Construction Corp. and Roxas & Co. Inc. exited the Micro Cap Index.
FTSE conducts a regular review of its indices to ensure that these are up-to-date and accurate. It considers the “liquidity and investability” of the stocks in assessing which to include and which to exclude.
“This recognition underscores the trust that investors continue to place in Security Bank,” Sanjiv Vohra, the bank’s president and CEO, said in a statement on Sunday.
“We see this milestone not only as market recognition, but as an inspiration to continue innovating and putting customers at the heart of everything we do,” Vohra added.
Improved sentiment
Better investor sentiment due to improving macroeconomic conditions encouraged Security Bank to tap the debt market to raise at least P5 billion. The offer period for the five-year notes, which will have a yield of 6 percent per annum, will be until Oct. 17.
For their part, CPG president and CEO Marco Antonio said they were “honored by this inclusion, which represents a key milestone in our growth trajectory.”
“This recognition underscores the strength of our business model and our commitment to delivering long-term value to our stakeholders—from homebuyers and communities to our shareholders,” Antonio said.
The developer’s inclusion in the regional index comes months after state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) bought 740.74 million CPG shares for P500 million. This represents a 6.39-percent ownership stake, with analysts seeing SSS’ entry as a way to attract more big-time investors as CPG pursues aggressive growth for its money-making PHirst Park Homes brand.
