By Jerry Maglunog As the market for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) remains so big at about 92 percent, more banks have pledged to increase their exposure to MSMEs as an admission that the sector is too huge to ignore.

Seoul—South Korea’s industrial activity weakened in March after growing the previous month on the back of reductions in production, investment and consumption, boosting concerns about economic slump, a government report showed.

Taipei—Taiwan’s nominal gross domestic product expanded year-on-year in the first quarter of 2015 by 3.46 percent, slightly lower than the official projection made in February, the island’s statistics agency said.

London—The newborn royal baby girl made her first appearance to the public with the Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess outside St. Mary’s Hospital on Saturday evening. The baby, born at 8:34 a.m. (local time) was presented by her parents to the world at around 6:10 p.m.

Kathmandu—Despite unrelenting efforts by rescuers to dig the rubble at various sites in Nepal, chances of finding survivors are getting small since a week has passed after the powerful magnitude-7.9 earthquake. At least 7,000 people have been confirmed dead in the disaster, with the number of injured exceeding 14,000. Over 600,000 buildings have collapsed nationwide and several heritage sites damaged …

By Riza Lozada The resignation of former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla was both controversial and an eye-opener for the business sector, as his departure was considered the result of industry groups resenting the aggressive BOC thrust to hike revenues lobbying against him.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members need to go beyond commerce and financial assistance to address factors that impede the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as post-2015 development priorities, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

By Jerry Maglunog Many are ecstatic about the 8,000-plus Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi), as they believe it is one of the indications that the Philippine economy is really growing.

Mass-housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. has signed up the Walter Mart Group to operate malls in two of its mixed-used development projects in Metro Manila, 8990 Holdings Chief Executive Officer Januario Jesus Atencio said.

By Riza Lozada Cebuana Lhuillier has opened its first office in the Middle East, located at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), to provide remittances service to the Philippines as well as a liaison office for its partners in the region.