The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced on Thursday that it is ready to assist local businesses severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami). Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, DTI Acting Secretary Cristina Roque highlighted the agency’s dedication to supporting recovery efforts, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “We have been actively …

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) announced on Thursday that electronic product exports are anticipated to rebound in 2025. During the 13th Arangkada Philippines Forum in Pasay, SEIPI President Dan Lachica shared that the organization is forecasting a 5% increase in electronics exports for next year, marking a significant shift from the expected 10% decline …

The national government’s budget deficit has decreased during the first nine months of the year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). In a cash operations report released on Thursday, the BTr revealed that the budget deficit narrowed by 1.35% to P970.2 billion, down from P983.5 billion for the same period last year. A budget …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Monetary Board approved USD3.81 billion public sector foreign borrowings in the third quarter of the year. Data released by the BSP on Tuesday showed the public sector’s foreign borrowings from July to September this year went up by 36 percent from the USD2.81 billion in the same period last year. The borrowings include one …

Digital bank Maya has announced a collaboration with Landers Superstore to introduce a state-of-the-art co-branded credit card, designed to enhance the shopping experience for consumers. In a statement released recently, Maya introduced the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card, which offers cardholders the opportunity to earn cashback rewards of up to 5% on purchases at Landers, 2% on dining, and 1% …

Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) regularly enhances its educational programs by providing innovative training sessions to teachers from its beneficiary schools across the country. This equips educators with new teaching methods to boost students’ proficiency in subjects like English and Science. During its Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, elementary English teachers from Visayas and Mindanao were trained on the …

Unprogrammed funds may be accessed if the allocated disaster funds for relief efforts following Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) prove inadequate, according to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Friday. During a situation briefing with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace in Manila, Pangandaman stated, “If additional funding is necessary, we can …

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and German government banknotes printer Bundesdruckerei GmbH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on payments and currency management on 10 October 2024 at the BSP head office in Manila. According to Governor Remolona, BSP recognizes “the need for banknotes for a long time to come” even as the central bank works hard to “shift …

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), a fully automated container terminal and International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s business unit in the Port of Melbourne, Australia, received the inaugural call of the enhanced Wallaby service last September.  Operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the Wallaby service offers a faster and more direct connection between Australia, New Zealand, and North Asia to provide customers with improved …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR’s) massive relief drive for areas affected by Tropical Storm Kristine has begun in earnest, sending out an initial 5,000 relief packs on Thursday from a total of 53,000 packs it has prepared. The relief packs will be dispatched to hard-hit communities in the Bicol Region, Northern Luzon and CALABARZON, said PAGCOR Chairman and …