First Metro is The Asset’s top sell-side firm in the secondary market

FIRST METRO Investment Corporation, the investment banking arm of the Metrobank Group, was recognized once again as the Philippines’ top sell-side firm in the secondary market and among the top arrangers for primary issues for both corporate and government bonds based on the Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review 2019 of The Asset Benchmark Research of Hong Kong.

First Metro ranked first among Top Sell-side Firms in the Secondary Market for Corporate Bonds and Top Sell-side Firms in the Secondary Market for Government Bonds. The investment bank was also among the Top Arrangers—Investors’ Choice for Primary Issues for Government Bonds, ranking second, and among the Top Arrangers—Investors’ Choice for Primary Issues for Corporate Bonds, ranking fourth.

Company officers were also voted among the Best Local Currency Bond Individuals in Sales and Trading, with senior manager Bernice Joyce Nobleza and vice president David Ignacio Estacio ranked third and fifth in Trading, respectively, and senior manager Mary Grace Ong-Singson ranked fourth in Sales.

The Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review has been conducted annually since 2000. This year, they surveyed close to 400 institutional fixed income investors who are active in 10 Asian currency bond markets: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Respondents were asked to rate the best banks or securities houses across a series of buying criteria, including their actual service experience, and identify their trading counterparties in the secondary market.