By Derco Rosal The country's inflation rate rose to 2.3 percent from September’s four-year low of 1.9 percent due to soaring rice prices which jumped following recent calamities including Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon. October's inflation pushed the 10-month...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the country’s inflation rate is moving in a decelerating path as expected and will be closer to two percent, which is the low end of the target range, in the next months. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the BSP said the October inflation of 2.3 percent — although...
by Derco Rosal The country’s employment rose in October to its highest level in the past seven years due to the continued expansion of the manufacturing sector, S&P Global reported on Monday, Nov. 4. S&P Global said the strong uptick in new orders drove the local manufacturing sector's...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Thursday, Oct. 31, that the rate of increase in consumer prices is expected to rise in October after two months of decline, largely due to higher food and fuel prices. In a statement, the BSP projected that October's inflation rate would likely...
By DERCO ROSAL London-based Capital Economics expects that Southeast Asian central banks, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), will likely continue lowering interest rates in the coming months due to anticipated sluggish economic growth and continued low inflation. “With GDP [gross...
Think tank Capital Economics has flagged potential risks to Asian currencies, including the Philippine peso, should Donald Trump secure victory in the upcoming US presidential election. In a report, Capital Economics said that Trump's protectionist policies could exert depreciation pressures...
Central banks in emerging Asian economies like the Philippines are expected to further lower interest rates despite expectations of slower monetary easing if the protectionist former US president Donald J. Trump returns to the White House, according to two economic think tanks. In an Oct. 21...
BY DERCO ROSAL German financial services giant Deutsche Bank expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to continue easing gradually but warns that the US presidential election and trade policy changes could delay further rate cuts. “A key risk to our view is the US presidential election and...
The relative strength or weakness of the Philippine peso would be a consideration for monetary authorities in determining the extent and pace of the ongoing policy easing cycle, economists said. Following the 25-basis point (bp) reduction in the policy rate to six percent on Wednesday, Oct. 16,...
The Monetary Board (MB) has announced a second reduction in policy rates by 25 basis points for 2024 while noting that it will “maintain a measured approach in its easing cycle.” In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the MB decided to reduce the Target Reverse Repurchase (RRP)...
By DERCO ROSAL As another Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) interest rate cut looms, economists and bankers are citing various factors entailing easy monetary policy, including slowing inflation and economic growth. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) lead economist Emilio S. Neri Jr. also expects...
Ikano Retail, the parent company of IKEA Philippines, reported a modest decline in revenues due to rising consumers prices. Christian Roejkjaer, Ikano Retail chief executive officer, said the company closed its financial year ending Aug. 31 in the Philippines with a turnover of EUR141 million...
