Eight emerging market (EM) economies, including the Philippines, are likely to suffer the severe effects of El Niño, S&P Global Ratings projected, warning that below-average rainfall could significantly affect water and electricity supply, as well as rice and corn production. “Drought conditions...
Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook for the Philippine banking sector from ‘neutral’ to ‘deteriorating,’ warning that recent macroeconomic pressures will likely weaken borrowers’ repayment capacity and compress bank earnings. In a June 25 commentary, Fitch...
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) and Security Bank Corp. posted steeper unrealized losses and faced greater pressure on their core capital buffers in the first quarter of the year, driven by their outsized exposure to volatile fixed-income holdings, according to Moody’s Ratings. The...
The Marcos administration’s decision to limit consumer subsidies shields the government budget from global price shocks but threatens to choke off private consumption and derail domestic demand, according to global debt watcher Moody’s Ratings. In its latest Asia-Pacific (APAC) report published...
The Philippines’ macroeconomic risk profile has deteriorated to its worst level in a decade, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to global shocks as its Southeast Asian neighbors outpace it in fiscal health. According to the latest emerging markets macro risk analysis by DBS Bank, which...
Citing the need to finance the country’s ₱6.793 trillion national budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026, the Philippines has returned to the global debt markets with a triple-tranche offering of United States (US) dollar-denominated global bonds. In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, the Bureau...
Philippine Airlines (PAL) secured a stable outlook and its first-time “BB” credit rating from Fitch Ratings, indicating the flag carrier maintains enough financial flexibility to withstand severe global headwinds and capacity constraints In a June 11 commentary, Fitch said the non-investment...
Global debt watcher Fitch Ratings has lowered its outlook on the Philippine banking system to “deteriorating,” warning that exposure to the ongoing United States (US)-Iran war could dampen lending activity, raise credit costs, and squeeze profitability. Fitch wrote in a June 8 commentary that...
Chinese imports are unlikely to displace the Philippine manufacturing base because many sectors have limited direct trade overlap with the country’s exports, according to global debt watcher Moody’s Ratings. Measured through the manufacturing vulnerability index (MVI), Moody’s found that the...
Philippine conglomerates operating in critical sectors like real estate, power, energy, and telecommunications are facing heightened financial strain from the strengthening United States (US) dollar, which threatens to inflate the cost of their foreign-denominated debt. The brewing corporate...
Global debt watcher Moody’s Ratings affirmed the investment-grade ratings of Ty-led Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank), citing the bank’s strong capitalization, solid asset quality, and ample liquidity despite risks from elevated inflation, slowing economic growth, and heavier reliance...
Global debt watcher Moody’s Ratings affirmed the deposit ratings of the Philippines’ largest lenders—Sy-led BDO Unibank Inc. and Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)—citing their strong profitability, solid asset quality, and ample liquidity buffers. Both lenders maintained their...
