Business

Bank lending continued to grow in August but at a slightly slower pace, while domestic liquidity expanded at a faster rate, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Thursday. Preliminary data showed outstanding loans from universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) rose 11.2 percent year-on-year in August, easing from 11.8 percent in July. Total lending during the month reached ₱13.61 trillion. …

The national government’s debt stock slightly eased to ₱17.47 trillion as of end-August 2025, down 0.5 percent from ₱17.56 trillion in July, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported Tuesday. The decline was attributed mainly to the government’s full repayment of its largest local bond for the year, worth ₱516.34 billion, as well as the peso’s appreciation, which lowered the …

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains upbeat about the Philippines’ economic prospects, saying the country will stay resilient amid a challenging global environment. In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025 report released last week, the ADB projected the Philippine economy to grow by 5.6 percent this year and slightly quicken to 5.7 percent in 2026. While the 2026 forecast was trimmed …

Investor jitters over alleged anomalies in government flood control projects dragged the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lower for a fifth straight day Friday, while the peso closed flat against the US dollar. The PSEi slipped 0.25% to 6,027.12, while the broader All Shares index shed 0.24% to 3,644.80. Property (-1.55%), Services (-0.88%), and Holding Firms (-0.12%) pulled the market …

Starbucks announced Thursday that it will slash nearly 900 non-retail jobs and close dozens of stores in North America as part of a restructuring plan to curb costs. The US-based coffee giant said its company-operated store count in the region will shrink by about 1% in fiscal year 2025, bringing the total to nearly 18,300 outlets across the US and …

The Board of Investments (BOI) is targeting to release the updated 2025–2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) before the year ends, a senior official said Friday. BOI Investment Promotions Services Executive Director Evariste Cagatan said the refined version, which will require approval from the BOI Board and the Office of the President, will expand the list of sectors eligible for …

Two subsidiaries of D&L Industries, Inc. have secured a two-year extension of their Income Tax Holiday (ITH) for their manufacturing facilities in Tanauan, Batangas. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, D&L said the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) granted Pioneer Status to D&L Premium Foods Corp. (DLPF) and Natural Aeropack Corporation (NAC), moving their ITH expiry …

Residential real estate prices in the Philippines rose by 7.5% in the second quarter of 2025, slightly slower than the 7.6% increase recorded in the first quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Friday. Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR) drove the growth with an 11.5% increase, while prices in Metro Manila rose by 2.4%. By housing type, …

The Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) has partnered with medical device distributor Freya to equip and train personnel for its ₱16.83-million Super Health Center in Casiguran, Aurora, which is expected to open this December. APECO president and CEO Gil Taway IV and Freya managing director Emmanuel Cueto formalized the agreement in Parañaque City on Thursday. Taway said …

The Philippines and Singapore have started negotiations to update their nearly five-decade-old Double Taxation Agreement (DTA), the Department of Finance (DOF) announced Thursday. The first round of talks was held in Manila from Sept. 2 to 4, covering measures to eliminate double taxation on income and prevent tax evasion and avoidance. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the review is long …