The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is expanding its anti-money laundering network to include banks and e-wallets, stepping up oversight of the country’s fast-growing electronic gaming sector. The state-run regulator published a memorandum detailing amendments to its existing...
Inflation may have surged to as high as 7.9 percent in May, driven by soaring basic commodity prices and the weakening local currency, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Amid intensifying macroeconomic headwinds, global supply shocks filter into the domestic economy, the central...
Relying solely on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) interest rate hikes will likely provide limited support for the Philippine peso, which remains on the verge of another historic low amid elevated oil prices, a stronger United States (US) dollar, and cautious market risk appetite, according...
Philippine economic growth is seen falling to a new post-pandemic low of three percent this year as the lingering impacts of last year’s multi-billion-peso flood-control corruption scandal and the prolonged war in the Middle East weigh on investor and business confidence, according to think tank...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is facing a delicate balancing act as foreign and local lenders price in a minimum five percent benchmark interest rate by the end of 2026. Economists said that mounting stagflationary pressures and the potential de-escalation of geopolitical conflicts in the...
Philippine economic growth needs “a major impetus” after slowing to its weakest pace since the pandemic recovery period, with rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the prolonged Middle East conflict expected to weigh on the country’s property sector, according to property consultancy...
Business confidence deteriorated further in April as geopolitical hostilities in the Middle East and elevated global oil prices stoked fears of persistent inflation, prompting companies to aggressively scale back their capital expenditure plans. According to the latest business expectations survey...
The political telenovela continues at the Senate with the emergence of a new crying lady, a public confession of sibling love manifested through culinary gifts, and most recently, the staging of a dramatic walkout. Yes Virginia, the Senate is currently in severe institutional turmoil. These...
The central bank and insurance regulators are pushing for the bundling of parametric insurance with traditional credit lines, aiming to unlock vital financing for sectors most exposed to worsening climate risks. By tying automated weather-indexed payouts directly to bank loans, regulators hope to...
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. has urged banks to continue strengthening governance, transparency, and internal controls, saying these safeguards become most critical during periods of economic and financial uncertainty. Speaking during the inaugural Corporate...
The research arm of German lender Deutsche Bank expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to deliver bigger interest rate hikes than previously anticipated as inflation risks intensify, while also lowering its economic growth forecasts for the Philippines amid mounting external pressures and...
The interagency Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) has flagged rising risks to the Philippine financial system stemming from the prolonged war in the Middle East, increasing corporate vulnerabilities, and growing household debt, although officials said the country’s banking sector...
