PHL stock trading resumes Jan. 19 after long-weekend from papal visit

Despite having been declared a special non-working holiday, Jan. 19 will be the day trading resumes on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) after a four-day weekend in light of the papal visit.

 

This comes on the heels of a central bank schedule of operations during the papal visit.

 

In a text message to GMA News Online, PSE president Hans Sicat said the stock exchange "will be open on the 19th."

 

Earlier Monday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced the suspension of banking operations in Metro Manila in light of the Papal visit this week.

 

Last month, Malacañang declared January 15, 16 and 19, 2015 as special non-working days in Metro Manila due to Pope Francis' visit.

 

The central bank, however, said the Philippine Payments and Settlements System (PhilPaSS) will open on January 19.

 

PhilPaSS is an automated facility run by the central bank to facilitate payments of huge sums of money between banks through deposit accounts with the central bank. 

 

The move is "to support delivery of essential banking services to the public, like ATM availability and check-clearing," Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla said in a separate text message to GMA News Online.

 

"It also paves the way for PSE equity trading operations," he added. – VS, GMA News