The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

By Luis Leoncio President Aquino signed into law on December 8 the Tax Incentives and Management Act (Timta), which was much anticipated by the business sector, as it proposes to streamline the granting of government tax perks to business projects. 

By Jerry Maglunog Effective January 1, 2017, all 55 million automated teller machines (ATMs) cards and 8 million credit cards must shift to the Europay, MasterCard, Visa (EMV) standard, which basically means that the magnetic strip used in earlier credit cards will soon become history. However, as of now, no more than 30 percent of all ATMs and credit cards …

The Department of Public Works and Highways will need more qualified and well equipped contractors to implement public infrastructure projects in 2016 following the increase in DPWH’s infrastructure budget by 30 percent. 

By Daryl Rose Virtudazo Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Juan Sta. Ana is resigning from his post effective end of this month.

Malacanang has ordered all national and government agencies to submit an inventory of all idle lands in their locality that can be used for socialized housing projects. 

Sen. JV Ejercito is lauding the P93-billion Official Development Assistance (ODA) given by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to construct the north segment of the North – South Railway Project (NSRP) as a good holiday present to the Philipine National Railway and to the public. 

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) signed a loan agreement with Indonesia in the amount of Y77.137- billion to help mitigate traffic congestion through the construction of mass rapid transit system. 

Boston—Stephen Curry scored 38 points as the Golden State Warriors improved to 24 wins with loss this season by outlasting the Boston Celtics, 124-119, in double overtime on Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila). 

By John Leicester / The Associated Press Paris—Perhaps, the only thing scarier than the scale of corruption that United States investigators are uncovering in football is the thought that a sizeable chunk of those indicted administrators might soon also have laid paws on the sport’s crown jewel, the World Cup. 

Microsoft continues to reassert itself this year as a leading player in the computer software and mobile-technology industry with the recent release of the newest version of its beloved suite of office applications and its latest, Windows 10-powered smartphones, both of which promise to give professionals a much easier time in doing their jobs, on and off their desktops.