Philippine financial markets are heading into the week on a cautious footing as renewed threats by Iran to potentially close the Strait of Hormuz inject fresh volatility into global oil supply expectations and inflation outlooks, according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort.
The Philippine stock market is navigating a mixed outlook as the PSEi contends with renewed foreign selling, offset partially by improving domestic investor sentiment and anticipated foreign inflows into the local bond market.
Philippine financial markets are expected to remain fragile this week, with investors bracing for continued volatility as risk aversion dominates sentiment and the benchmark index struggles to regain footing above key levels.
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.
Industry groups are calling on the government to review a proposal to sharply raise excise taxes on sweetened beverages under the ProGRESS Bill, warning it would hurt local sugar farmers, businesses and consumers while raising questions over its real benefits.
Newly installed Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Robert Joseph M. de Claro is pushing for an organizational restructuring to boost the department’s performance and deliver more effective digital public services to Filipinos.
GCash is marking its 22nd anniversary with a nationwide promotional campaign offering free MRT-3 rides, P10 chicken meals and prizes worth up to P100,000, as the financial technology platform seeks to reward users through October 31.
The Philippine government has secured USD1.5 billion in emergency financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help cushion households, commuters and businesses against rising fuel prices and economic disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict.