The country's balance of payments (BOP) posted a surplus of USD609 million in 2024, a decline from the USD3.7 billion surplus in 2023, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). This, the BSP said, was driven by a widened current account deficit, which grew by 41.4 percent to USD17.5 billion for the year. The deficit stemmed from a larger trade deficit and reduced receipts in services, partially offset by increased income transfers.
Gold, as an asset, isn’t considered a favorable investment by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), as it typically leads to a negative carry due to custodial costs and price volatility.
Foreign direct investments (FDI) flowed inward on a net basis in December 2024, totaling USD110 million, representing a stark 85.2 percent decline from USD743 million from a year earlier. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) traced the drop primarily to increased debt repayments by resident corporations to foreign investors, which caused a shift in FDI composition.
The country's gross international reserves (GIR), an indicator of capacity to pay for trade and maturing debt, saw a significant rise in February, reaching USD106.7 billion, up from USD103.3 billion in January, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
RL Commercial REIT Inc. (RCR), the publicly listed real estate investment trust backed by property giant Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), is setting its sights on tripling its asset base over the next three years as part of an aggressive growth plan backed by its sponsor.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) 230-kilovolt Pinili substation project, a ₱1.63-billion infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s transmission network and supporting renewable energy (RE) integration in the Ilocos region.
Meralco affiliate Pacific Light Power Pte. Ltd. (PLP) is on track to complete its 600-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant in Jurong Island, Singapore by January 2029, signaling a major step in the company’s regional expansion.
As the nation gears up for the 2025 midterm elections, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced it is on full alert to ensure uninterrupted power supply to over 3,000 polling precincts, canvassing centers, and critical election sites across its franchise area.