Yields on shorter-dated Philippine Treasury bills climbed at Monday’s auction as investors positioned for a possible further monetary tightening by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) later this week.
Philippine inflation surged to 7.2 percent in September, matching the pace in April, which is the fastest rate in three-and-a-half years and putting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas under renewed pressure to tighten monetary policy.
The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time since 2023, lifting its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent to 4 percent as policymakers moved to counter persistent inflation.
Treasury bill yields climbed across all maturities at Monday’s auction as investors priced in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent rate hike and the prospect of further monetary tightening amid an elevated inflation outlook.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is pushing to close a persistent financing gap for micro, small and medium enterprises, with bank loans to the sector reaching more than P580 billion but accounting for only about 6 percent of total business lending.
Rodil Zalameda will become the country’s next chief justice of the Supreme Court on Friday, November 6, succeeding Alexander Gesmundo, who retires after reaching the mandatory age limit.
Robust borrowing from both businesses and households pushed the Philippine money supply upward in September, underscoring a tightly knit loop between active bank lending and circulating financial liquidity.
Foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines surpassed five million as of November 4, growing 3.74 percent from 4.82 million in the same period last year, with a sharp rebound in Chinese visitors helping offset declining arrivals from South Korea.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has emphasized how rice research and strong partnerships are helping Filipino farmers face growing climate threats, as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) celebrated its 41st anniversary Thursday, November 5.