HomePage - TimeLine Layout • The Market Monitor

19 May

Confronting the shame of vote-buying

The recent observation by European Union (EU) election observers that the Philippines’ midterm elections were marred by rampant vote buying and political violence should be a sobering call for national reflection, not indignation or denial. Their assessment, which paints a dismal portrait of the democratic process in action, is not an affront to our sovereignty but a mirror held up …

19 May

AI services propel Alibaba to 7% revenue growth in Q1

Chinese technology leader Alibaba reported a 7% year-on-year increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2025, propelled by surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven services and strong performance in its cloud computing segment. In its latest earnings disclosure, Alibaba posted a revenue of 236.5 billion yuan (USD32.6 billion) for the quarter. A key contributor to this growth was its …

19 May

Phl, Chile advance talks on free trade deal

The Philippines and Chile are accelerating efforts toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), following a bilateral meeting between trade officials held in Jeju, South Korea. In a statement released Friday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque met with Chilean Vice Minister of Trade Claudia Sanhueza on May 15 during the Asia-Pacific Economic …

19 May

Remote Palawan communities granted MES

The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), formally handed over three Mobile Energy Systems (MES) to the National Power Corporation–Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG) on Friday. Developed through the USAID Energy Secure Philippines program, the MES units are mobile, solar-powered platforms equipped with battery storage and designed to supply electricity in …

19 May

Monde Nissin to build major biscuit plant in Northern Luzon

Snack food giant Monde Nissin Corp. is gearing up to begin construction of a large-scale manufacturing facility in northern Luzon, with initial operations targeted between 2026 and 2027. In a virtual briefing held last week, Monde Nissin Chief Financial Officer Jesse Teo shared that the new plant is intended to expand production of its well-known biscuit brands, including SkyFlakes and …

19 May

PAGCOR remits P12.67-B dividends to state coffers

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has turned over P12.67 billion in dividends to the National Treasury, representing 75 percent of its net income for 2024. The amount significantly exceeds the 50 percent remittance requirement under Republic Act 7656, or the Dividends Law. “Our 75 percent dividends remittance is in line with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto’s directive to government-owned …

19 May

Shell Pilipinas targets sustained growth

Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) remains optimistic about sustaining business growth despite persistent local and global economic challenges. In a recent disclosure, the company reported a net income of P740 million for the first quarter of 2025, down from P1.4 billion in the same period last year, due to heightened market competition and volatility. However, core earnings grew by 26 percent, …

19 May

Coin deposit machines’ operations to be halted

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will temporarily halt the operations of its Coin Deposit Machines (CoDMs) starting June 17 as part of an initiative to reassess its strategy for re-circulating idle coins. In an advisory issued Friday, the BSP announced that the machines, currently located in select malls across the Greater Manila Area, will be suspended to allow a …

19 May

Financial sector resources climb to P34.29-T in March

The total resources of the Philippine financial system grew by 6.7 percent year-on-year as of end-March 2025, according to data released Friday by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Figures show that combined resources of banks and non-bank financial institutions reached P34.29 trillion in March, up from P32.11 trillion in the same period last year. Banking institutions accounted for a …

19 May

Zeekr 9X first hybrid SUV

Zeekr took the spotlight again with the global debut of its flagship luxury SUV, the 9X, at the recent Shanghai Auto Show which sets new benchmarks in design, performance, and electrification, marking a bold leap forward for the brand. It is set to be launched tomorrow by Autohub, its local distributor. As the first hybrid model under the Zeekr brand, …

TimeLine Layout

May, 2025