The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Jerry Maglunog  Contrary to the Aquino administration’s proud boasts of inclusive and sustainable growth, the past five years of his term showed the economy failed where it mattered most—in the agriculture sector where a third of the Filipino workforce are employed. 

By Luis Leoncio  The improved fiscal space that President Aquino and Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima have been citing for the string of ratings upgrade the country has received from credit watchdogs should have provided the source of funds for the proposed P2,000 increase in the monthly pensions for retired members of the state pension fund Social Security System (SSS), …

By Riza Lozada  The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has sought the view of local banks on a proposal to redefine their real-estate exposure, to include investments in socialized-housing developments. 

President Aquino directed the Department of Health (DOH) to monitor the situation abroad and study the Zika virus to ensure public safety, a Malacañang official said.

London—Although some lessons from the Ebola outbreak can be applied, the recent spread of the Zika virus presents a different challenge and needs a different response, according to a commentary published Friday by a British think tank Chatham House. 

By Luis Leoncio The current market downturn resulting from the flight of foreign funds from the Asian market has a good side to it, according to analysts who now consider the local stock exchange as a buyers’ market. 

By Riza Lozada Listed firm 8990 Housing Development Corp. has been named the top developer in the country by the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) in terms of take-out value.

Local bourse operator Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) held its annual Philippine Corporate Day in Tokyo, Japan on January 28 and 29 in partnership with DBP-Daiwa Capital Markets Philippines.

Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) had formed an 80 Percent owned information technology unit LR Data Center and Solutions Inc. (LRDCSI). 

Chemical distributor SBS Philippines Corp (SBS) has appointed Gerry Tan as president and CEO effective last January 29 in place of SBS founder Necisto Sytengco, who was also former interim president and current chairman of the board and executive committee.