The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Riza Lozada All Toys “R” Us stores in the Philippines are operating “business as usual” and continue to offer a wide assortment of toys and merchandise for kids.

Renewable energy firm Solar Philippines became the first Filipino company to win Power Company of the Year at the Asian Power Awards, the region’s most prestigious awards known as “the Oscars of the power industry”.

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) will likely be granted the original proponent status for the takeover and rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Listed building solutions provider Holcim Philippines Inc. recently shared their products that can help the government better execute its road infrastructure program, a key thrust of the national infrastructure upgrade particularly in Mindanao, during the 2017 Philconstruct in Davao.

By Riza Lozada The Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) board recently approved the appointment of President Edwin Bautista as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2018 to take the place of Justo Ortiz who has been the bank’s CEO since 1993.

Security Bank Corp. (SBC) had reinforced the security of its automated teller cards (ATM) with an enhanced safety feature.

Bond yields in most emerging East Asian markets rose between June 1 and August 15 to reflect improving growth prospects in both emerging East Asia and globally, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest Asia Bond Monitor.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy-making Monetary Board (MB) maintained its 2017-18 inflation projection but slightly hiked the 2019 figure given the developments in oil prices and weakness of the peso, among others.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the Government of Japan remained the country’s top Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner in terms of loans for the first half of 2017.

China assured the Philippine government that it will increase development assistance to the country following improved economic relations between the two countries.