Business

Consumer loan growth is expected to lose some momentum next year as softer economic activity, global uncertainties and shifting borrower sentiment weigh on demand, Bank of the Philippine Islands executives said. BPI head of consumer banking Maria Cristina Go said weaker consumer confidence could temper loan expansion in 2026 even as interest rates continue to ease. “We will be cautiously …

Two finance officials, speaking at different venues, expressed hope this week that the current political and social turmoil over corruption scandals in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do not affect the nation’s economic performance. Finance Secretary Frederick Go plans to meet with his counterparts in the various departments such as tourism, agriculture, transportation, energy and public works …

By DAISY C. ILAGAN Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who made a name in business selling T-shirts and other garment lines, created quite a ruckus recently when she claimed that for 500 pesos, a regular Filipino family can partake of decent food during the coming Noche Buena. Noche Buena, that long-running tradition of Filipino families sharing the Christmas eve meal together, …

Megaworld Hotels & Resorts (MHR) continues to make remarkable strides in the Philippine  hospitality industry as it takes home two of the country’s most prestigious award-giving bodies — the 11th Virtus Awards and the 28th Mabuhay Awards.  These awards highlight not only MHR’s creativity and talent pool, but also its unwavering commitment to purpose-driven leadership, inclusivity, and Filipino hospitality. “These …

Philippine trade deficit decreased in October as exports surged and imports contracted, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday. The $3.83-billion deficit was markedly lower than the year-earlier $5.81 billion, plunging by 34.2 percent, and also fell from $4.67 billion in September. China and Hong Kong, with a total of $1.832 billion goods bought, are the biggest …

Inflation in November is likely to settle within the range of 1.1 to 1.9 percent, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday.  This would be lower than the target range of 2 to 4 percent set by economic managers.  From January to October, the inflation rate averaged 1.7 percent, remaining flat below this range, as food prices largely …

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest bank, raised $500 million from the sale of five-year fixed-rate senior notes to global investors as demand for the offering soared. A disclosure at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed that the transaction, under BDO’s Medium Term Note (MTN) program, was more than 3.2 times oversubscribed, with orders totaling around $1.6 billion. The senior …

Maya took center stage at Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 as it showcased how artificial intelligence is powering a new era of smarter, more inclusive digital banking for millions of Filipinos. Speaking before global fintech innovators and banking executives, Maya Group Chief Technology Officer Alfred Lo delivered a clear message: AI is no longer just a tool—it …

Since its establishment in 2014, Coins.ph has remained the leader in crypto exchanges in the country with over 16 million users. Through its mobile apps, users can buy and sell  a variety of cryptocurrencies and access a wide range of financial services such as paying bills and buying groceries. The company is also the first crypto-based firm in Asia to …

The Philippines retains its investment-grade status as S&P Global Ratings affirms its long-term BBB+ and short-term A-2 ratings, while projecting slower growth for the economy this year. On November 27, 2025, S&P (Standard & Poor’s) index made the announcement as the government temporarily halts key infrastructure projects amid probes into suspected misuse of flood-control funds. The agency noted that the …