The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

Was it another one of the overload of bad advice presidential candidate Mar Roxas has been getting from his vaunted communications team? 

By Christopher S. Rugaber / The Associated Press Washington—US hiring swelled in October by the largest amount all year, and unemployment dropped another notch to 5 percent, increasing the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve (the Fed) will raise interest rates next month for the first time in a decade. 

By Jerry Maglunog Tougher competition in the banking sector is expected as more foreign banks and rapidly expanding domestic lenders are seen to open more branches by next year. 

By Riza Lozada The Philippine National Bank (PNB) reported a group profit of P4.7 billion for the first nine months ending September, which was P1 billion higher than the figure posted a year ago.

  Washington—United States Federal Reserve (the Fed) Chairman Janet Yellen said that an interest rate hike in December is a “live possibility” if the economy stays on track. 

New York—Sometimes family comes first. 

Albany, New York—Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $258 million to settle legal problems stemming from US sanctions violations, New York regulators said. 

Hanoi, Vietnam—Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam last week comes as the two communist countries seek to mend ties strained over territorial disputes in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). 

St. Louis—A divided Illinois Supreme Court has again rejected a $10.1-billion class-action judgment against Philip Morris over its past efforts to market “low-tar” and “light” cigarettes as healthier alternatives. 

Paris—Novak Djokovic saved set points in both sets to remain on course for his third straight Paris Masters title after beating fifth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8), in a hard-fought quarterfinal last Friday (last Saturday in Manila).