Banking & Insurance

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto hailed the significant drop in inflation to 2.1 percent in February, marking the lowest rate since October 2024. He said the reduction provides vital relief to lower-income families, particularly on food prices. The bottom 30 percent income group's inflation rate fell to 1.5 percent, further easing the financial strain on vulnerable sectors.

BDO Capital president Eduardo V. Francisco recently emphasized the country's promising growth prospects, positioning the country as a key player in the evolving global economy. Francisco said that the Philippines remains resilient, with growing international confidence and heightened foreign interest in the country's investment potential.

The Philippines is strategically positioned to harness the expanding momentum in sustainable finance, driven by strong economic stability and favorable market conditions, according to ING Bank in Manila. The country’s stable inflation, coupled with proactive monetary policies by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has created an optimal environment for green financing.

Treasury bill yields were mixed at Monday’s auction, with shorter-dated debt papers softening following the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' decision to reduce banks’ reserve requirement ratio, effective later this month.

Security Bank Corp., the country 8th largest lender by assets, posted a record-high net income of PHP11.2 billion in 2024, a 23 percent  year-on-year growth, driven by improve lending and fee-based income.