The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Fund manager Mark Mobius said investors should not be overly concerned with Presi­dent Duterte’s “firebrand” im­age, as his election is consistent with the global wave of chosen populist leaders who are effec­tively implementing law and order in their respective coun­tries, which is “a good thing” for their long-term prospects.

The highly positive results of re­cent surveys on President Duterte’s policies have affirmed that an over­whelming majority of Filipinos are oblivious to the negative political up­roar and are appreciative of his efforts in his first three months in office to make good on his promise to restore peace and order, sustain the growth momentum, and bring the benefits of our …

By Riza Lozada The Department of Energy (DOE) is pursuing the removal of the value-add­ed-tax (VAT) on the systems-loss charge and the universal charge on stranded debts to bring down electric­ity rates.

President Duterte will have the fi­nal say on the proposed two-year moratorium on the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricul­tural uses that has split some influ­ential members of his Cabinet.

By Riza Lozada A legislator has cred­ited Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) for offering up to P184.25-million worth of common shares to its Fili­pino employees, alongside the oil refiner’s highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of up to P19.49-billion worth of shares from October 19 to 25. “We welcome Shell’s decision to enable its Fili­pino employees to become shareholders, and …

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will push the development of the tourism industry to help small businesses, since tourism has a huge multiplier effect in terms of jobs generation, Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

By Luis Leoncio The ports sector in the Asia-Pacific sector will suffer the stron­gest impact from the headwinds of slowing econo­mies in the region, Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) said in its latest report.

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc (SPAVI), the operator of the Shakey’s pizza chain of stores, is targeting to raise up to P5.5 billion through an initial public offering this year.

Rival mall operators SM Prime Holdings and Robin­son’s of the Gokongwei group are planning to put up sepa­rate mall projects in Legazpi City, Albay starting with the P1.5-billion SM City Legaz­pi which will break ground in January next year.

Global port operator Inter­national Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) recently opened the first phase of its new greenfield terminal develop­ment at its Basra Gateway Ter­minal in the North Port, Umm Qasr, Iraq.