The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

With a housing backlog of 3 million, which is going up by at least 6 percent a year, the housing industry, specifically the companies that provide affordable housing, does not have at its fingertips the data needed to allow both the private sector and the government the tools to decipher what is happening and what are needed to make things happen. 

By Jerry Maglunog With the aim of servicing more Filipinos, the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank or LBP) has launched a massive expansion in the provinces to reach a bigger number of unbanked Filipinos. 

By Riza Lozada RCBC Bankard credit cards are now embedded with Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV)-chip technology to comply with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) Circular 808, issued in August 22, 2013, requiring all BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs) to shift from the traditional magnetic stripe to the more secure EMV-chip technology by the start of next year. 

Washington—The head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank (NY Fed) said he’s less inclined to support a Fed rate hike in September amid recent global turmoil, including falling oil prices and a slowdown in China. 

New York—This probably isn’t what the United Nations had in mind when it established the International Day of Peace: Burger King is asking McDonald’s to join forces to create a “McWhopper.” 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—Defying authorities, thousands of Malaysians wearing yellow T-shirts and blowing horns gathered last Saturday in Kuala Lumpur for a major rally to demand the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak. The crowds were undeterred by heavy police presence after authorities declared the rally illegal, blocked the organizer’s website and banned yellow attire and the logo of Bersih, …

Charleston, South Carolina—If there was ever a week for the 2016 Republican presidential candidates to talk tough on China, this was it. Spurred by the stock market’s wild ride, they lashed out at the world’s most populous nation. 

By Lily O. Ramos  / Philippines News Agency  It’s true that Philippine football has reached a new level in the last few years, mainly because of part-Filipino players who used their athletic abilities and good looks to draw attention to the sport, which ranks No. 1 in the world. 

By Joe Kay / The Associated Press  Cincinnati, Ohio— Roger Federer isn’t in such a rush anymore. He’s doing things his way and taking time to savor each moment. 

Tokyo—Japan’s government has approved a plan to reduce the seating and slash the construction cost of the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after vocal and public opposition to the initial design erupted.