Foreign Portfolio Investments in Philippines Plunge 91 Percent

Foreign portfolio investments in the Philippines, often referred to as hot money, fell by 91 percent in July 2026 compared to July 2025. Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shows a net inflow of $66.47 million for the month, a significant decrease from the $742.56 million recorded during the same period last year.

Investment patterns diverged across asset classes in July. Securities listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange saw a net inflow of $86 million, while government securities experienced a net outflow of $20 million.

The broader trend for 2026 indicates a sharp reversal in investor sentiment. From January to July, the Philippines faced a cumulative net outflow of $3.94 billion, contrasting with a $2.29-billion net inflow during the first seven months of 2025. This year-to-date deficit resulted from gross outflows of $19.55 billion, which heavily offset gross inflows of $15.61 billion through withdrawals from both the stock market and government securities.