The Philippine economy is enjoying low inflation and accelerated growth amid a manufacturing rebound plus improved consumer spending in the second quarter of 2025, according to global investment banking giant Goldman Sachs. In an Aug. 1 report obtained by Manila Bulletin, Goldman Sachs Economics...
A slightly higher inflation rate that remains below two percent in June would allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut interest rates some more in August, economists said. In a June 27 report, Deutsche Bank Research economist Junjie Huang said headline inflation could have inched up to...
Debt watcher Moody’s Ratings said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) continued easing of key borrowing costs would cushion the local economy amid a challenging external environment, driven especially by the persisting crossfire between Israel and Iran. “Continued monetary easing will...
While closer ties to large conglomerates provide Philippine banks with ample capital and lending opportunities, these direct connections also increase lending risks within the groups, and financial distress at the conglomerate level could have a profound impact on the banks. “Financial distress...
While the Philippines’ exit from the European Union’s (EU) high-risk jurisdictions list is expected to ease the country’s access to the EU financial system, debt watcher Moody’s still urged continued vigilance in sectors such as online gaming and cryptocurrency to ensure it does not return...
Moody’s Ratings has affirmed the credit ratings of three of the Philippines ’ largest banks —BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank)—on the back of their solid capital positions, stable profitability, and strong liquidity, even...
With the President-backed bloc securing a midterm poll victory over the Duterte-aligned camp, Moody’s Analytics said the outcome could help ensure smoother continuity of the administration’s economic and governance policies. “In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s...
Government spending related to the May 12 midterm elections—frontloaded expenditures prior to the polls as well as the resumption of delayed projects due to the election ban—would likely spill over into the second quarter and support first-half economic growth, economists said. "While the...
Debt watcher Moody’s Ratings has downgraded Union Bank of the Philippines’ (UnionBank) credit ratings, citing deteriorating asset quality following rapid growth in retail lending and rising problem loan ratios. In its latest rating action issued on Monday night, April 21, Moody’s cut the...
While Security Bank Corp. shows overall financial stability, credit rater Moody’s Ratings revised its outlook on the bank’s ratings to negative, citing lingering risks, including the decline in its capital buffer, rapid loan growth, and reduced ability to absorb losses. “We revised the...
Moody’s Ratings, a credit rating agency, has upgraded Philippine National Bank’s (PNB) deposit ratings, citing the big bank’s sustained improvement in profitability, strong capital position, and solid liquidity as key drivers of the upgrade. Moody’s has raised PNB’s ratings for...
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to finally push through with its much-awaited reduction in key interest rates to protect the economy from the likelihood of a wider negative outlook gap, no thanks to United States (US) President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs. In an April 4...
