The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

LOVE FOR ALL​By Virginia Rodriguez When the First Lady stepped into Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the visit quickly became more than a ceremonial tour. It turned into a moment of political reflection—an encounter with what purposeful, disciplined, and forward-looking leadership can achieve when vision is matched by execution. What greeted First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos was not infrastructure designed …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro When President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. quipped, “Rumors of my death are highly exaggerated,” after being hospitalized, the remark carried humor but also a sobering truth: even the highest leader of the land is not exempt from fatigue, illness, and the need for rest. It was a reminder that beneath the title of “President,” there is still a …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN When President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday, the Palace spokeswoman tried to scrape the bottom of the economic cauldron to come up with something worth reporting to the press. Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communication Office  had to make do with …

By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN and JONATHAN P. GESMUNDO The year 2025 was filled with exciting challenges for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), some of which were not of its own making. DOTr was inadvertently enmeshed in the spill-over of the flood control scandal that hit the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), a massive controversy involving past DPWH secretaries, undersecretaries, district engineers, and unit heads—in connivance with leaders of the House of Representatives, the Senate and Malacanang Palace.  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had to pull out then Transportation Secretary Vince …

The construction industry and its sibling businesses such as suppliers of construction materials were unfortunately hit by the flood of corruption which their leaders and corrupt government officials brought on the nation. This was during the last two quarters of 2025, during the height of the multi-billion peso flood control scandal in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) …

UNLEASH Philippines, a local innovation program of UNLEASH initiative which aims to empower young changemakers and early-stage innovators using collaborative, user-centered design and prototyping methods.  With the closing of 2025 and the start of 2026, UNLEASH Philippines helped shine a light to pressing issues in the country and equip individuals striving to enact change and strengthen solution efforts during a …

The Philippine stock market has room to move higher in 2026 as easing interest rates, improving capital market regulations, and a more stable macroeconomic environment support a gradual recovery, according to the Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP). ICCP President and COO Manny Ocampo said the recent rise in the Philippine Stock Exchange index reflects a “catch-up” phase …

First and largest Filipino life insurer InLife completed the sale of its shareholdings in iCare HMO to Value-Based Health Care PF PTE. LTD. (VBHC) of Singapore, subject to regulatory approval. This is part of InLife’s strategic move to streamline its portfolio and concentrate on life insurance and corporate solutions enabling more comprehensive solutions for clients nationwide. “This realignment allows us to …

DEEPAL is set to be introduced soon in the local market and Autohub Group is strengthening its push into next-generation mobility by marking a significant step in the company’s expansion within the electrified vehicle space. Autohub was appointed the exclusive Philippine distributor of DEEPAL following a contract signing on middle of this month formalized with Changan Auto Southeast Asia. The agreement establishes the foundation for the brand’s long-term development and …

Vinfast is on a roll these days as it rolls out various pioneering electric car policies and significantly broadening its product lineup in the local market. ​Last week, Vinfast Philippines, led by Vinfas chief executive officer Toti Zara, unveiled its Battery Subscription Program, an important step in the brand’s evolving approach to electric mobility in the Philippines  Zara disclosed that this is VinFast long-term approach for the electric mobility in the local market …