The Philippine peso remains Asia’s “weakest link” as markets remain largely unconvinced that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) hawkish policy stance can sufficiently contain inflation without further weakening economic growth, according to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) Bank...
With dust from the United States (US)-Iran war still swirling in the air, global inflation remains vulnerable to a sudden resurgence in oil prices, according to global investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, keeping the case for a preemptive hike in borrowing costs alive. Goldman Sachs has...
Local economic growth suffered from a severe contraction in investments and a construction slump, causing Southeast Asia’s growth to slow to five percent in the second quarter. In an Aug. 19 commentary, Singapore-based Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. (OCBC) Group Research reported that the...
Further increasing the key borrowing cost to five percent is needed to curb still-elevated price pressures that are hurting consumers’ pockets, Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank AG said. Deutsche Bank Research joined the hawkish consensus, pricing in a quarter-point hike at the monetary...
Monetary authorities are widely expected to deliver a third consecutive 25-basis-point interest rate increase on Thursday, Aug. 27, as persistent supply disruptions, recent wage hikes, and a weakening currency keep inflation risks tilted to the upside. A majority of private-sector economists...
Philippine online gaming operators are increasingly being forced to seek rescue capital, partnerships, or full exits as at least three in five gaming system administrators (GSAs) suffer from severe revenue crisis. In an Aug. 19 report, regulatory and commercial advisory firm Arden Consult...
The Philippine economy faces an uphill battle in the second half of 2026 after posting its weakest post-pandemic growth, with private sector economists warning that faster infrastructure spending, easing inflation, and stronger investor confidence will determine whether the country can meet the...
Singapore-based Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. (OCBC) holds one of the most hawkish outlooks on local monetary policy, pricing in a 25-basis-point (bp) rate hike at each of the remaining policy meetings in 2026 on expectations that inflation will stay elevated. OCBC Group Research expects...
Japanese financial giant MUFG Bank Ltd. said the Philippine peso is among the Asian currencies that stand to benefit from the Japanese yen’s appreciation against the United States (US) dollar. MUFG Global Markets Research senior currency analyst Michael Wan identified the peso, Thai baht, and...
Private-sector economists are divided over the trajectory of Philippine inflation in July, though they broadly agree that lingering climate risks, geopolitical tensions, and a weaker peso will compel the central bank to keep interest rates elevated. Forecasts for July headline consumer prices span...
Philippine economic growth likely picked up above the three-percent level in the second quarter, mainly on improved spending on public goods and services, with most private-sector economists expecting the economy to perform better than in the previous quarter despite lingering headwinds from...
A resurgence in global energy prices is poised to test the resilience of the peso, though aggressive monetary policy from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely insulate the currency from extreme volatility, according to DBS Bank. DBS senior economist Radhika Rao wrote in a commentary...
