THE Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. has joined the global “Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy,” an initiative of the World Federation of Exchanges. The move marks the self-regulatory organization’s third straight year of supporting this advocacy.
PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon and Securities and Exchange Chairman Emilio B. Aquino led the bell-ringing event.
The “Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy” initiative is WFE’s program in support of the World Investor Week hosted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (Iosco). Close to 80 members of WFE are participating in this annual activity.
Monzon noted in his message the growing number of retail investors in the Philippine stock market, most of whom are considered stock market neophytes.
He also cited the various investor education activities of the PSE to equip potential and new investors with basic and practical stock market knowledge.
“All the financial literacy programs we do in PSE is our contribution to help make financial inclusion a reality,” Monzon said. “We want more Filipinos to reap the rewards of their hard work through investing.”
Among the ongoing financial literacy activities of the PSE are the twice a month webinars, online certified securities specialist course and daily stock market information posting on the PSE’s official social media accounts.
Aquino, for his part, highlighted the need to improve the financial literacy level in the country and how the SEC Communication Advocacy and Network helps address this need.
“We believe that financial education will empower our investors to protect themselves from unscrupulous players in the financial market,” he said.
“All market infrastructures, whether large or small, whether in a developed market or a frontier market, should prioritize investor education at the heart of their business and as a foundation of market integrity,” Aquino added.
The SEC’s advocacy is an initiative aimed at deepening and broadening investor education and protection among Filipinos. PSE is one of the SEC’s partner organizations in this network along with 10 other public and private organizations.
For the rest of the week, the PSE will continue to share investor education information on its official social media accounts. The PSE will also host a webinar on October 8 on debunking stock investment myths.