The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business

SM Foundation (SMFI) is inviting incoming college freshmen to apply for the SM College Scholarship program for School Year 2022-2023.  The SM Scholarship Program started from the vision of the late SM patriarch, Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. He believed that if you send one child from an economically challenged family to college, that child would have more opportunities to have …

The heightened implementation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s digitalization transformation (DX) programs, complemented by its growing workforce of young and skilled professionals under the Duterte administration, enabled the agency to steadily improve its collection performance and broaden the taxpayer base in 2021.  BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay reported that 4.63 million business taxpayers were registered last year despite the …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently signed new memorandums of agreement with two of its rehabilitation partners to continuously heighten the public’s awareness on the state-run gaming firm’s responsible gaming program.  PAGCOR formally renewed its ties with the Bridges of Hope and the Life Change Recovery Center on 7 April 2022 to thwart the ill-effects of uncontrolled gambling …

As part of the 2022 Earth Day Celebration, Manila Water, together with its partner agencies, kicked off a 2-day environmental event with a theme, “Saving the Earth: Securing Water for the Future”.  Manila Water was joined by its partner organizations Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Water and Resources Board (NWRB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), …

MREIT, Inc., the REIT company of the country’s largest office landlord Megaworld, declared dividends of P0.243 per share to its shareholders based on its income for the first quarter of 2022.  The cash dividends will be payable on May 31, 2022 to stockholders on record as of May 10, 2022.  MREIT’s dividend policy contemplates quarterly distribution of dividends.  Reflecting the …

Emperador Inc. – the largest global brandy company owning the world’s iconic and best-selling brandy, Emperador Brandy – recorded a normalized net profit of P10.8 billion in 2021, reflecting a robust 35% increase from 2020’s net profit of P8 billion. Normalized net profit to owners went up by 34% year-on-year to P10.6 billion last year. Revenues rose by 6% to …

If he is not traveling on air on his private jet, chances are you can see Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis Chavit Singson riding his armored-van “BMW” most of these days.  It was his ride when he guested last Monday (April 18) during the “Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel” at the Manila Hotel. What he used then was the Inkas Civilian …

Before the end of the month, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) will be having the changing of leadership as its current president Hajime Koso turns over the helm of the leading manufacturer to Noburo Murakami.  Koso is certainly one of the longest serving presidents of a leading industry companies, having been in his post for seven years. He took over the …

Ford Mustang, which celebrates its 58th birthday this year, is the world’s best-selling sports coupe for the seventh straight year, according to Ford analysis of registration data from S&P Global Mobility.  Mustang retains its sales crown for 2021 led by the pinnacle of 5.0-liter V8 performance — Mustang Mach 1 — and the track-ready Mustang Shelby GT500, the most powerful …

Faced with the chaotic traffic situation after the strict restrictions on Covid-19 pandemic were loosened up recently, the Metro Manila Development Authority is back trying to implement another experiment on our roads.  A proposal to make a new twist on the existing Modified Number-Coding Scheme, otherwise known as the Unified Volume Reduction Program, is expected to be implemented probably middle …