The Philippine peso is back under pressure as surging oil prices and geopolitical strains jolt global markets, sharpening the policy dilemma for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that the Philippines’ outstanding external debt edged lower in the fourth quarter of 2025, offering a modest improvement in debt manageability as global investors trimmed their exposure to Philippine securities.
Average yields on Philippine treasury bills fell at Monday’s auction, reflecting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ recent quarter-point cut to its benchmark interest rate. The move signals easing borrowing costs for both the government and private sector amid a supportive macroeconomic backdrop.
Anticipation of further monetary easing later this week kept Treasury bill yields on a downward path at Monday’s auction, as investors piled into short-dated government debt.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid 1.3 percent to 6,384.58, extending profit-taking for a second session after touching seven- to nine-month highs. Even so, the benchmark remains comfortably above the 6,000 mark, keeping the broader uptrend intact and suggesting the pullback is more consolidation than reversal.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. reported a 5 percent increase in first-quarter income to P6.9 billion from P6.6 billion a year ago, despite higher energy prices and global market volatility.
SPC Power Corp. has set aside P3 billion in capital expenditures for 2026 to support the development of battery energy storage system (BESS) and solar power projects.
AirAsia has signed a deal with Airbus to buy 150 A220-300 aircraft in an agreement valued at about $19 billion at list prices. The airline also has the option to increase the order to 300 aircraft in the future, making it the largest single firm order globally for the A220 model.
ASEAN leaders are expected to issue a unified statement on the Middle East at the 40th ASEAN Summit tomorrow, outlining both a regional position and a framework for addressing future crises, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said.