The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday that chicken prices may soon decline following the lifting of the import ban on poultry products from Brazil and six U.S. states. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Orders No. 34 and 32, officially removing the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, eggs, and …

China’s decision to bar former Philippine senator and current Deputy Majority Leader Francis Tolentino from entering all its territories is both revealing and troubling.  This move—reportedly in retaliation for his firm stance on Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea—exposes Beijing’s growing intolerance for lawful, diplomatic dissent. Tolentino has been among the most vocal defenders of Philippine maritime rights. He …

The producer price index (PPI) for the manufacturing sector saw a quicker annual decline of 0.4 percent in May 2025, accelerating from just a 0.001 percent dip recorded in April. “The faster decline in the annual rate of PPI for the manufacturing section in May 2025 was primarily due to the faster decrement in the annual growth rate of the …

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CPFI) for reducing the prices of its canned sardine products by P1. The price rollback, which took effect the same day, covers Ligo and 555 sardine brands. The company said the move was made “to ease the burden on consumers and support them during these times.” Roque …

Nike expects to incur an additional USD1 billion in costs due to tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, prompting the company to accelerate efforts to diversify its supply chain away from China. “These tariffs represent a new and meaningful cost headwind,” said Matthew Friend, Nike’s chief financial officer, during the company’s earnings briefing on Thursday. “With the new tariff rates …

Filipino consumers are entering the third quarter of 2025 with renewed optimism, buoyed by expectations of better job opportunities, higher incomes, and more stable inflation, according to the latest Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). While sentiment in the second quarter remained slightly downbeat—with the overall confidence index (CI) slipping from -13 percent in Q1 …

Combined global vehicle sales of eight major Japanese automakers rose slightly by 0.5 percent year-on-year in May, reaching 2.02 million units, according to data released Friday. Toyota Motor Corp. led the growth with a 6.9 percent increase in global sales, driven by strong demand for hybrid vehicles in North America. Rush purchases in the United States also continued amid concerns …

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and newly appointed Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Francis Lim have committed to fast-tracking key reform initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business and strengthening the country’s capital markets. The SEC, operating under the supervision of the Department of Finance (DOF), plays a crucial role in protecting investors, maintaining fair and efficient …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects inflation for June 2025 to fall within the 1.1 to 1.9 percent range, reflecting a mix of upward and downward price movements. “Upward price pressures for the month are likely to be driven by higher meat and vegetable prices, elevated oil prices and the depreciation of the peso,” the BSP said in a …

Eight rural banks will soon pioneer SynerFi, an open payments platform operated by tech firm higala.ph, with 12 more expected to join later this year—advancing the government’s goal of expanding digital financial services to underserved communities. The early adopters of SynerFi include Rural Bank of San Antonio, Inc. (Southern Luzon); Rural Bank of Lipa City (Batangas), Inc.; Progressive Rural Bank, …