Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp., struck a cautiously optimistic tone on the Philippines’ economic outlook, projecting a rebound as near-term risks begin to ease and structural strengths remain intact.
The Philippines faces a markedly weaker growth trajectory after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its 2026 expansion forecast to 4.1 percent, citing intensifying global shocks and a softer domestic backdrop.
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the looming effects of El Niño are emerging as twin headwinds to Philippine growth, with remittances and inflation pressures forming a potentially volatile mix.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan cautioned lawmakers that a prolonged Middle East conflict could trigger a severe economic shock in the Philippines, with surging oil prices threatening to reverse gains in poverty reduction.
Treasury bill yields continued to ease at Monday’s auction as investors positioned for a possible shift toward monetary easing by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) amid weakening economic momentum.
Manila Water Co., Inc. has approved a share buyback program of up to 3 million common shares, potentially spending up to P105 million to repurchase its own stock in the open market.
The SSI Group delivered stronger sales and profitability in the second quarter of 2026 as resilient consumer demand, better margins, and tighter operations gave the specialty retailer a healthy lift.
The net loss of ABS-CBN Corp. more than doubled in the first half of 2026, as lower advertising and weaker group-wide revenue outweighed modest improvements in its core content business.
BYD is strengthening its presence in the Philippines as the country becomes an increasingly important market for electric vehicles and new energy vehicles.