GDP GROWTH DECELERATES TO 4.0%: PUBLIC SPENDING CRUNCH AND CORRUPTION PROBES SLOW Q3 EXPANSION

BSP REMAINS VIGILANT AMID SLOWER GROWTH, MAINTAINS POLICY RATE

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) maintained its key policy rate at 6.50% during its October 2025 meeting, citing the need to anchor inflation expectations despite the slower-than-expected Q3 GDP growth of 4.0%. This decision marked the second consecutive meeting the Monetary Board kept the rate steady, following a series of aggressive hikes to manage inflation. The BSP noted that while inflation remains within the target band, they must remain vigilant given global uncertainties and potential pressure from commodity prices. Analysts expect the BSP to remain on hold, possibly for the rest of the year, to assess the full impact of the economic slowdown.

CORPORATE EARNINGS SHOW RESILIENCE AMID GLOBAL HEADWINDS

Major listed companies delivered mixed but generally robust Q3 2025 results. Resilience was noted particularly in consumer, retail, and infrastructure segments. While some struggled with rising input costs, others provided strong underlying support. For instance, SM Investments reported strong growth driven by its retail and property arms. Meanwhile, Megaworld Corporation reported stable performance, showing local demand remains stable. Corporate performance is providing a stabilizing anchor for the PSE amidst bearish technical indicators, driven by fundamentally selective buying.

MAJOR LISTING LIFTS SENTIMENT: MAYNILAD IPO MAKES A SPLASH

Despite the cautious tone in the broader Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) due to the Q3 GDP slowdown, the market was buoyed by a major infrastructure listing. Maynilad Water Services successfully debuted its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in November, raising over P15 billion and marking one of the biggest listings of the year. The strong reception for the offering, primarily driven by foreign institutional investors and domestic funds, signals enduring confidence in the Philippines' essential services and infrastructure sectors. The successful IPO provided a necessary boost to market sentiment, demonstrating underlying stability despite macro-economic headwinds.

8TH INVESTORS' SOCIETY POWER-UP: RECRUITMENTS - FROM FROSH WALK TO FINANCE TALKS: AUGUST–OCTOBER EVENTS RECAP

ISIP SESSION 1 KICK-OFF: ORIENTATION COMPLETE, LEARNING BEGINS!

The Investors' Society successfully launched the first session of the highly anticipated Investors' Society Investment Program (ISIP) on November 5. This orientation drew a strong turnout of newly recruited members, all ready to dive into fundamental analysis and portfolio building next session. This comprehensive program is key to training our future investors. Congratulations to all who participated!

DIVIDENDS & BUDGETING: CASH FLOW WORKSHOP EXPANDS MEMBER KNOWLEDGE

On October 22, the organization hosted "The College Cash Flow Loop: Dividends, REITs & Earnings on Autopilot," a highly-rated webinar focused on teaching members essential skills for college budgeting and cash flow management. The session provided practical strategies to achieve financial stability and independence while navigating student life.

FROM PESO TO PLANS: a SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL FINANCE TALK

On October 8, the Investors' Society successfully held the exclusive session "From Peso to Plans." The webinar provided members with practical, expert-led strategies on personal finance, including setting up robust budgeting systems and effective savings plans, reinforcing the organization's commitment to foundational financial health.

FIRST TERM GA & RECRUITMENT RECAP: NEW TALENT ONBOARDED

The organization's new year kicked off with the First Term General Assembly on October 1. Additionally, the Investors' Society successfully concluded two critical drives: Junior Associate Recruitment (Sep 22–Oct 18) and Associate Vice President Recruitment (Aug 19–Sep 4). These efforts secured a strong cohort of committed new leaders and members for the term.

IS MEMBER SHINES: RAPHAEL CUENCA PLACES 6TH IN ASEAN INVESTMENT CHALLENGE

The Investors' Society proudly highlights Raphael Cuenca, Junior Associate for Investments Research, for his remarkable achievement in the inaugural Philippine leg of the ASEAN Investment Challenge (AIC) 2025. The AIC is a prestigious regional youth program dedicated to empowering students in sustainable investing. Over a rigorous two-month competition, Raphael managed a virtual $100,000 portfolio and was judged on complex, real-world metrics, including P&L, risk management, and ESG performance. Out of 135 registered Philippine teams, Raphael's sophisticated strategy secured him an impressive 6th place, notably making him the lone DLSU representative among the top 10 winners and earning a ₱5,000 cash prize. The award was presented by key financial sector leaders: SEC Chairperson Francisco E. Lim and PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon.

FROSH WALK & ANNUAL RECRUITMENT WEEK FUELS EXPANSION

The term officially began with the welcoming of new members during Frosh Walk (Aug 18–20; 22–23), which was designed to build camaraderie. This was followed by the successful Annual Recruitment Week (Sep 15–20; 24–27), which significantly expanded the organization's pool of committed talent for the year.

IS8 CALENDAR: MARK YOUR NOVEMBER!

Opportunities for growth and service continue this month: The Junior Associate General Assembly was successfully held on November 8 (A detailed recap will follow); members are encouraged to support the socio-civic drive, Piggy Bank for the ALS Students, on November 19; and all officers should save the date for the IS Leadership Spiritual Activity on November 22.