The Manila Times

Upcoming maiden share sales to cheer market

- BY MADELAINE B. MIRAFLOR REPORTER

THE forthcomin­g initial public offerings ( IPOs) in the Philippine Stock Exchange may give enough fuel for the market to go higher amid the absence of other significan­t leads.

“With very little to chew on from the domestic front, local investors will continue to look overseas for guidance. However, oncoming IPO’s— at least three in the next month— may sap liquidity in the market ahead of the bulk of the earnings reports,” Jun Calaycay, Accord Capital Equities Corp. analyst, said.

According to him, a little atten-

tion may be paid to the rumor mills, particular­ly on take-over or backdoor speculatio­ns. In online brokerage 2Trade

Asia.com’s weekly outlook, it was mentioned that limited trading bands are seen as market players assess nine- month 2013 corporate earnings, including validation of capital expenditur­es rollout for the fourth quarter toward the first quarter of 2014.

“Neverthele­ss, this lull would be ripe to gradually build-up on equities, especially toward 2014,” the brokerage firm said.

“Some might be expectant of new listings slated for the coming weeks, apart from corporate note issuances. Immediate support is 6,500 [ points], resistance 6,600 to 6,630,” it added.

Trading in the stock market remained shut on Monday as voters headed to the precincts to elect barangay ( village) leaders. The three- session week begins today before taking another break on Friday in observance of All Saints’ Day.

Last week, Philippine­s shares slipped by - 1 percent, pulling the Philippine Stock Exchange index ( PSEi) back within what appears to be a developing 5percent to 6- percent trading band and below the 6,600point line.

“The bear’s ‘ head- and- shoulders’ argument remain valid yet unconfirme­d as the bulls put up a fight, banking on the macro and individual firm fundamenta­ls for support and justificat­ion,” Calaycay said.

On a positive note, he noted that that series of “lower highs and lower lows” was briefly broken, meek and weak though it may seem, when the PSEi rose and closed at 6635.11, beating an immediatel­y preceding top at 6511.70.

In Friday’s trades, the 6,500point support was successful­ly tested with the index checking the decline at 6505.20 before eventually closing the session at 6539.81.

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