Singaporean investment bank DBS forecasts an improvement in the country’s economic output in the second quarter. 

Washington—United States Federal Reserve (the Fed)officials appeared to edge closer last month to a decision to raise interest rates as early as September. At the same time, officials remained concerned about low inflation, sluggish wages and a sharp slowdown in China—factors that will help determine whether they raise rates next month. 

Athens, Greece—Greece was receiving the first 13 billion-euro ($14.5-billion) payment of its new bailout, with 12 billion euros earmarked for repaying debts and the remainder for settling arrears to public sector suppliers. 

Pyongyang, North Korea— South Korea and North Korea on Saturday agreed to hold their first high-level talks in nearly a year at the border village of Panmunjom to defuse mounting tensions that have pushed the rivals to the brink of a possible military confrontation. 

London—Working 55 hours or more a week might be associated with greater risk of stroke and developing coronary heart disease, compared with working a standard 35 to 40 hours a week, according to a study published in the journal The Lancet late last week. 

Online accounts surged by 35.1 percent to 174,592 last year from 129,255 in 2013. Of this total, 99.6 percent or 173,895 were retail accounts. Since 2009, online accounts have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 43.9 percent, the 2014 Stock Market Investor Profile report of the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) showed. 

SM Supermalls, through its technology and lifestyle center Cyberzone, held this month its annual Cyber Month Tech Sale, a month-long indulgence for the tech-savvy, game geeks and gadget lovers. 

By Jerry Maglunog  Despite their generous-sounding pitches, consumer loans give banks the biggest margins on lendings. An average of 15 percent to 20 percent in interest goes to a bank that approves either a car, housing, salary or personal loan. 

Kuala Lumpur—Malaysia’s central bank said there is no need for “extreme measures,” such as pegging the currency or capital controls, to halt a slide in the ringgit. 

Jakarta, Indonesia—Indonesia’s president announced a Cabinet reshuffle, replacing key economic ministers with the aim of speeding up infrastructure spending to revive sputtering growth and stabilize the sliding rupiah.