Standard Chartered Bank Philippines recently held its inaugural 2026 Markets Forum, bringing together government officials, industry experts and market practitioners to discuss global market trends, capital markets development and emerging investment opportunities.

Held at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City, the forum featured Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr., who delivered the keynote address on the central bank’s efforts to deepen the country’s capital markets to strengthen monetary policy transmission and broaden investor participation. He said more developed fixed-income and corporate bond markets would improve price discovery, diversify funding sources and help build a more resilient financial system.

Edward Lee, Standard Chartered’s chief economist and head of foreign exchange for ASEAN and South Asia, also shared the bank’s global outlook, focusing on how businesses can navigate uncertainty and strengthen resilience in a changing economic environment.

The event also featured a panel discussion on global and ASEAN investment and funding themes, moderated by Toni Bautista, head of financial markets at Standard Chartered Philippines. Panelists included Patricia Buenaventura Nichol of Bain & Company Philippines, Jeff Wong, head of macro trading for ASEAN, Tee Mahatharadol, head of Markets FI Sales ASEAN excluding Singapore, and Mike Samson, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Philippines.

Samson said geopolitical and trade shifts continue to reshape supply chains, investment flows and business strategies, while ASEAN remains well-positioned to benefit from evolving global trade corridors.

“Today’s market environment is characterized by both complexity and opportunity,” Samson said. “As we continue to navigate a volatile world, it is important to sharpen our understanding of the forces shaping our future and improve the decisions we make because of them.”