UPDATE 1-Philippines - Market factors to watch - Feb 9

(Adds press digest entry)
MANILA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Here are news stories and
press reports which may influence local financial markets on
Thursday:

WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IN THE PHILIPPINES:
- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala holds press briefing
for the 2011 Agri-Pinoy Achievers' Awards, Department of
Agriculture, Quezon City, 10:30 a.m. [0230 GMT]

REUTERS NEWS - PHILIPPINES
> Manila's BDO Unibank raises $300 mln via notes
> Belle confirms seeking lease deal for 2nd casino
> Philippines Dec money supply up 6.3 pct yr/yr
> Manila Dec bank lending growth slows to 19.3 pct

LOCAL PRESS REPORTS
(Reuters has not verified these stories)
- The country's richest man Henry Sy of SM Invesments Inc
is finalising a deal to acquire a majority stake in an
unlisted local property group in a transaction worth around $1
billion, giving the group control of a 16-hectare shopping
complex in the capital. (PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER)
- Diversifying conglomerate San Miguel Corp also
wants to take part in the planned auction for the design and
construction of the 60 billion pesos ($1.42 billion) Light Rail
Transit Line 1 extension project. (BUSINESSMIRROR, PHILIPPINE
DAILY INQUIRER)
- The government wants a sin-tax reform measure to be passed
by Congress this year, a presidential spokesman said, as Manila
seeks a credit rating upgrade. (BUSINESSMIRROR)
- Petron Corp, the country's biggest oil refiner,
said it has complied with the 10 percent minimum public float
requirement of the Philippine Stock Exchange after one of its
stockholders sold shares last month. (BUSINESSMIRROR, PHILIPPINE
DAILY INQUIRER)
- The Aquino administration's attempts to prosecute alleged
wrongdoings associated with the previous government are
"political distractions" unlikely to compromise management of
the country, Agost Benard, Standard & Poor's credit analyst
said. (BUSINESSWORLD)
- Power utility Manila Electric Co expects its 2012
net income to top its estimated 14.5 billion pesos core profit
last year, according to a top company official. (THE PHILIPPINE
STAR, MANILA BULLETIN)
- The economy may expand at a faster pace of between 5
percent and 7 percent in the first quarter of the year due to
increased public spending, the economic planning secretary said.
(MANILA STANDARD TODAY)

MARKET NEWS
> Wall St ends flat; Cisco gains after the bell
> SE Asia Stocks-Markets rise,aided by Greece hopes
> Euro edges lower as Greek talks transfix
> Gold down nearly 1 pct on technicals, euro jitters
> Brent hits 6-mnth high; copper one-week peak

----------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0009 GMT ---------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 1349.96 0.22 2.91
USD/JPY 77.06 0.04 0.03
US 10YR 2.01 1.26 0.02
SPOT GOLD 1731.50 -0.11 -1.89
US CRUDE 98.93 0.22 0.22
DOW JONES 12883.95 0.04 5.75
ASIA ADRS 129.61 0.74 0.95
FTSE 100 5875.93 -0.24 -14.33

-------------------------------------------------------------

($1 = 42.21 pesos)
Pan-Asia...... Japan........ S.Korea....
S.E. Asia............ Hong Kong... Taiwan.....
Australia/NZ......... India....... China.....

OTHER MARKETS:
Wall Street........... Gold....... Currency.
Eurostocks........... Oil......... JP bonds..
ADR Report.......... LME metals.. US bonds..
Stocks News US... Stocks News Europe..

DIARIES & DATA:
IPO diary & data Asia earnings diary
U.S. earnings diary European diary
Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead
World forecasts

TOP NEWS:
For top Asian company news, double click on:
U.S. company news European company news
Forex news Global Economy news
Technology news Telecoms news
Media news Banking news
Politics/General news Asia Macro data
A multimedia version of Reuters Top News is available at:
topnews.session.rservices.com

LIVE PRICES & DATA:
Philippine stocks Philippine peso
Philippine debt Debt
World Stocks Currency rates
Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei
FTSE 100 LME price overview

(Reporting by Manila Newsroom)