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.
The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called the proposed zero budget for the EDSA Busway “inexplicable,” warning that underfunding one of Metro Manila’s busiest mass transit systems could worsen congestion and raise costs for commuters and businesses.
Top Line Business Development Corp. has appointed veteran banking executive Jane K. Gocuan as chief investment officer, effective September 18, as the company expands its focus on investment-related activities and business development.
The Philippines is looking to the US for a positive response to measures Manila has taken to address forced labor concerns, as bilateral talks continue over additional tariffs on Philippine exports.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) have inaugurated the world’s first laboratory fully dedicated to sex-sorting buffalo semen, marking a major policy and infrastructure milestone to strengthen domestic food security, cut import dependence, and build a self-sustaining local dairy sector.