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).
SM Prime Holdings Inc. will inaugurate SM City Laoag on May 30, marking its 88th shopping mall in the Philippines and its first in Ilocos Norte. The new mall underscores the company’s strategy to deepen its presence in emerging regional growth centers.
Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) announced the upcoming turnover of Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) in June 2025, highlighting a P4.53-billion facility upgrade that is expected to significantly enhance Bohol’s tourism and commercial capacity. Under a 30-year concession, AIC will implement infrastructure enhancements including expanded terminal capacity, modern aviation systems, and upgraded airside and landside facilities.
The Ayala Group, through AC Mobility and property arm Ayala Land Inc., is undertaking an ambitious nationwide expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, targeting 700 stations by the end of 2025, up from just 90 today. The move, announced Tuesday, marks a bold push into clean energy infrastructure with clear commercial and corporate significance.
SAN ILDEFONSO — Rice farmers from Central Luzon on Wednesday hailed the reopening of National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses in Bulacan and the aggressive palay procurement drive ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., more popularly known as PBBM, calling the intervention a lifeline that has boosted their confidence to keep planting.