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...
ILOILO CITY – The inflation rate in Western Visayas dropped to 3.3 percent in September, the Philippine Statistics Authority-6 said on Thursday, October 10. A VEGETABLE vendor in Iloilo City. The inflation rate in Western Visayas dropped in September to 3.3 percent. (Tara Yap) Nida Amolar, PSA-6...
DoubleDragon Corporation is looking to raise as much as P30 billion over the next two years through the issuance of retail bonds as part of its plan to boost its financial position and cash reserves. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, Oct. 9, DoubleDragon said that the bonds will be issued in...
Filipinos do not need to worry about rising extra rice prices, as they are projected to fall due to better global supply, allowing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to speed up the lowering of borrowing costs in the coming months, according to British banking giant HSBC. Aris Dacanay, chief...
With more women joining the workforce and jobs on the rise, the government is anticipating a merry Christmas. Filipinos may enjoy a brighter holiday season as the latest labor survey showed improvements in the job market, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a statement. “A...
By DERCO ROSAL UK-based banking giant HSBC announced that the battle to control surging inflation in the country has been won. “We think the BSP's [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] inflation battle is finally over,” the bank stated, following the sharp decline in inflation in September. HSBC...
Downward Philippine inflation in the near term would be slightly offset by the new law imposing 12-percent value added tax (VAT) on digital services, Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) said. In an Oct. 4 report, UOB senior economist Julia Goh and economist Loke Siew Ting noted that there is...
