Philippine investors were most optimistic in Asia and topped the latest Manulife Investor Sentiment Index (MISI) for the fourth quarter of 2013. The survey was conducted among other countries in Asia namely China and its special administrative region Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The U.S. and Canada were also included in the index. 

Joining the survey for the first time, the Philippines had a total index score of 66. It edged the other Asian countries included in the survey and also boosted the overall investor sentiment in the region to 22 from a previous quarter score o 15. Overall sentiment in Asia was equal to the fourth quarter investor sentiment in the United States. Canada’s score was at 32. 

“Having seen strong GDP growth for two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, the Philippines has emerged at the forefront of Southeast Asia’s developing markets. The upbeat sentiment of Philippine investors at 66 points mirrors consumers’ mounting confidence in this economy, which has been able to withstand natural disasters as well as tolerate global market volatility,” explained president and chief executive officer for Manulife Philippines, Mr. Ryan Charland. 

The MISI is a quarterly tracker of investor sentiment among different asset classes: real estate, equities, mutual funds, unit trusts, fixed income, and cash. The index score used for the survey was determined by subtracting the total percentage of respondents who thought it was a bad time to invest from the percentage of those who said it was a good time. 

According to a press release on the Manulife Philippines website, the MISI surveyed, in total, about 4,000 respondents in Asia and about 1,000 in the U.S. and Canada. The respondents were a mix of middle-class and affluent investors, all aged 25 and above. They were also the decision makers in their households when it came to financial matters and were active investors in different asset classes.