The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Listed mass-housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. continued to book double-digit growth in earnings on the back of strong sales and increased construction capacity in the first nine months of the year. 

By Riza Lozada  Diverse conglomerate of tycoon George Ty, GT Capital Holdings Inc. (GT Capital), posted a 32 percent growth in profit for the first nine months driven by strong sales of Toyota car brands and strong real estate earnings. Consolidated net income rose to P8.4 billion from P6.3 billion a year ago. GT Capital’s consolidated revenue grew 10 percent …

By Riza Lozada JG Summit Holdings Inc. of magnate John Gokongwei posted a core net profit excluding non-recurring items of P20.69 billion for three quarters ending September, a 39.2 percent increase from P14.86 billion a year ago. The main drivers of growth were Cebu Air Inc. (CEB) and JG Petrochemicals Corp (JGPC), the company said in a report. Net income …

Let’s be defensive before we’re accused of being offensive. We are committed advocates of capitalism. Even of the kind that foists profits as ideal, relegating social responsibility, corporate citizenship and charity as offshoots following Adam Smith’s crusted cliché on the “Invisible Hand.” 

One sidelight of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit was a one-on-one between Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and mass-housing developer Januario Jesus Atencio, CEO and president of 8990 Holdings, the country’s No. 1 low-cost housing developer, and the topic was affordable housing. 

In his speech at the CEO Summit of the recent Apec meeting, President Aquino reverted to his trademark blame-game strategy, hitting at former President Gloria Arroyo as he trumpeted what he alleged to be the country’s significant “inclusive growth.” 

By Jim Gomez / The Associated Press Manila—Asia-Pacific leaders have urged governments to urgently increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism as they wrapped up annual talks haunted by the Paris attacks. 

By John-Thor Dahlburg  / The Associated Press Brussels—Belgium’s capital entered a security lockdown on Saturday as the government warned of a threat of a repeat of Paris-style attacks, with subways in Brussels closed and heavily armed police and soldiers deployed. At least one suspect from the deadly Paris attacks is at large, and was last seen crossing into Belgium. 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) attracted $136.2 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2014, up from $117.7 billion in 2013, marking a rise of FDI flows for the third consecutive year. 

By Jerry Maglunog While local banks are required to engage in lending to needy sectors, as it is the essence of banking, trading remains the biggest revenue source for most.