Philippine banks’ bad loan ratio deteriorated to 3.37 percent as of end-April 2026, marking an eight-month high, likely due to the delayed impact of elevated borrowing rates on borrowers. The latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data showed that the banking industry’s gross non-performing...
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the central bank have approved the merger of the nation’s two largest payment and clearing operators, creating a unified entity tasked with driving growth in digital transactions in the country. BancNet Inc. and the Philippine Clearing House Corp....
Foreign banks are turning more hawkish on domestic consumer prices than the central bank, warning that expiring price freezes and unabsorbed food costs will drive inflation beyond official projections. Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank AG has an inflation forecast of 8.1 percent for May, breaching the...
The Philippine men’s and women’s indoor volleyball teams have secured berths in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan this September. The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) confirmed the qualification through an email sent to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) over the weekend, with both teams...
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...
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has decided to suspend the funding for Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and its related activities over alleged non-compliance with rules and agreement. On Friday, May 29, Manila Bulletin/Tempo obtained a memorandum from PSC board meeting,...
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...
