The monetary authorities are projected to execute a follow-up interest rate cut when the policy-making monetary board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) meets on Thursday this week.
The country's external debt climbed to US$146.74 billion as of end-March 2025, marking a 6.6 percent increase quarter-on-quarter and 14 percent rise year-on-year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
The Philippines posted a balance of payments (BOP) deficit of US$3 billion in the first three months this year, a reversal from the US$238 million surplus posted during the same period in 2024, according to data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The deterioration underscores mounting external pressures on the economy, with significant implications for macroeconomic stability and international investor sentiment.
Gold prices surged above $3,420 on Friday, marking the highest level in over a month, as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and global economic uncertainty drove investors toward safe-haven assets.