The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Jerry Maglunog and Luis Leoncio The executive order (EO) issued by Presi­dent Aquino to merge the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP or Landbank) would be the subject of a Senate investi­gation amid allegations of an attempt to cover up DBP ir­regularities, said Sen. Sergio Osmena III, chairman of the Senate committee …

By Luis Leoncio After revealing that the Aqui­no administration incurred a record P4.16-trillion debt in just five years, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) is now demanding that the gov­ernment make a public ac­counting on how it used the borrowings to improve the lives of the Filipino people.

Steps to be taken by the successor of President Aquino would be pivotal for the country’s effort to join the ranks of Asian ti­gers, an economic expert both said.

Shopping-mall mogul Henry Sy Sr. continues his rise on the prestigious list of Forbes World’s Billionaires’ List, climbing to 71st place from 73rd in 2015, despite his net worth falling to $12.9 billion from last year’s $14.2 billion.

By Riza Lozada The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) plans to allow the trading of shares using the US currency and is now seeking comments and suggestions from bourse stakeholders on its draft rules on Dollar Denominated Securities (DDS). 

Listed EEI Corp. posted its highest production mark with a profit of P18 billion last year, resulting in cash dividends of 20 centavos per share.

Listed property develop­er 8990 Holdings Inc. has expressed keen interest in forging partnerships as it considers venturing into the mall-operation business to further boost its income.

An increase in bandwidth and the construction of more cell sites for mobile phones are the only means to improve phone and Internet services while lowering costs, a Globe Telecoms official said.

No way, Jose,” was Bureau of Customs boss Alberto “Bert” Lina’s defiant answer to a question from the media audience at the Samahang Plaridel’s Kapihan sa Ma­nila Hotel press forum on whether he was disposed to give in to the demands of truckers—who are threat­ening to stage a “truck hol­iday”—to reconsider his memorandum-circular stip­ulating that only truckers with legitimate businesses …

If speculations prove correct, the Supreme Court (SC) is set to decide on the fate of the petition to disqualify Sen. Grace Poe from her bid for the presidency in the May 2016 elections.