The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

After 13 days of 33 shows at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, the festive holiday of watching Disney On Ice in the country concluded as it brought smiles to thousands of families from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Despite the growing digital age and the immersion of high-tech technology, the brand-new show remains a staple in …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Being in Dubai at a time when Philippine diplomacy, labor welfare, and cultural pride intersect is a reminder that governance is not confined to borders. I witnessed this firsthand as First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos met with top officials of Dubai Chambers, signaling that the Philippines’ engagement with the world—particularly with the Middle East—is becoming more …

Two giant companies from South Korea and Japan have partnered in a joint venture to deliver the feasibility study on a rail network system in Mega Manila. This was announced by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), adding that the feasibility study contract was worth $11.99 million. The DOTr notice states that the study project for the Greater Capital Region (GCR) …

With just your Globe cellphone, you may soon access Starlink internet services using low-earth orbit satellite technology, thus opening cyberspace connectivity to Filipinos even in remote areas. Globe Telecom Inc. announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc. to roll out direct-to-cell satellite connectivity last Friday. President and CEO Carl Cruz of Globe and Starlink senior partnerships …

If the government wants it, officials can act within 24 hours following an announcement that something is not right with the way things are. For instance, Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbox, was blocked within 24 hours following the official discovery of violations — such as misuse and generation of non-consensual sexually explicit images. This is a far cry from the …

The Philippines’ contribution to the global shipbuilding industry gained momentum as the first methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier began its voyage to East Asia following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to Cebu on Thursday. The 81,200-metric ton dual-fuel vessel, built by Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) at the 540-hectare West Cebu Estate in Balamban, Cebu, was named M/V Brave Pioneer by …

Families of OFWs may celebrate for a while because of the perceived increase in the local value of remittances from their relatives working abroad.  Exporters of local products may also be benefited because Filipino exports may become more competitive abroad. These are some of the positive consequences of the record slump of the Philippine pesos last Wednesday— P59.44 to the …

The top foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines have signed several agreements involving cooperation in various areas of development, among them defense and military,  trade and investment, infrastructure development through Official Development Assistance, economic security, agriculture, protection of supply chain, semiconductors, and the Luzon Economic Corridor. The two Asian countries decided to give each other mutual access to …

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to provide a long-term boost to the resilience of the Philippine economy. The CEPA was signed Tuesday on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 Summit at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, with Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina …

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is studying the Philippine Stock Exchange’s proposal for state-run pension funds to revive loan for stocks and other financial products,  signaling openness to the initiative while outlining a framework centered on member protection and operational sustainability. GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said the GSIS recognizes the potential of these loan programs to …