Banking & Insurance

Philippines posts wider external payments deficit, reserves remain strong Banks/Insurance The Philippines recorded a balance of payments (BOP) deficit of US$2.3 billion in February, bringing the total shortfall to US$2.7 billion for the first two months of the year. The BOP measures the country’s financial transactions with the rest of the world, including trade, investments, and debt payments. A deficit means more money flowed out of the country than came in during the period. Despite the deficit, the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) rose to US$113.3 billion as of end-February 2026, providing a solid financial buffer. This level is enough to cover 7.5 months of imports and service payments, and is 4.3 times larger than short-term external debt, indicating strong capacity to meet foreign obligations. The BOP deficit may reflect higher imports, debt payments, or capital outflows, which can put pressure on the peso if sustained. However, the increase in reserves signals that the country remains financially stable. The GIR acts as a safeguard, ensuring the Philippines has enough foreign currency to pay for imports, service debt, and manage exchange rate volatility. Strong reserves also help protect the economy from global financial shocks, even when external payments temporarily exceed inflows.

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The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent and its chairman, Jerome Powell, said monetary policy is steady for...