Philippine inflation eased to a five-month low of 6.1 percent in August, offering some relief after prices accelerated sharply earlier this year, but the reading remained elevated enough to underscore the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ decision to raise interest rates last week.
Treasury bill yields rose across all tenors at Monday’s auction as investors priced in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent rate hike and the possibility of further monetary tightening.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday delivered a preemptive 25-basis-point rate hike and left the door open to further tightening as stubborn inflationary pressures threaten to keep prices above the central bank’s target range.
Moody’s Ratings affirmed the Philippines’ Baa2 sovereign credit rating on Monday, citing expectations that the government’s fiscal position will stabilize over the next two years despite a sharp slowdown in economic growth.
Treasury bill yields were mostly higher at Monday’s auction as investors appeared to price in the possibility of tighter monetary policy ahead of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ interest rate-setting meeting later this week.
Businesses covered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) electronic invoicing mandate have until year-end to upgrade billing and accounting systems, potentially adding to software, technology and training costs.
The Philippines is pushing for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union to protect preferential market access and shield exporters from higher tariffs as the country moves closer to losing eligibility for the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
The United Kingdom is seeking to deepen trade and investment ties with the Philippines without waiting for Manila’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), signaling a parallel approach to bilateral and regional economic integration.
Taiwan-based CQS Precision Die Casting Inc. is expanding into the Philippines with a new manufacturing facility in Batangas, adding robotics production to the industrial mix at LIMA Estate.