UnionBank using AI-based tool for customer feedback

UNIONBANK of the Philippines, Inc. is now using a tool that leverages data science and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve customer experience and product...

Vietnam central bank buys dollars to shore up reserves after sell-off

HANOI — Vietnam’s central bank said on Tuesday it was making efforts to shore up foreign exchange reserves by buying up more US dollars,...

MUFG to invest $200M in fintech firm Akulaku

TOKYO — Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) said on Monday its banking unit will invest $200 million in Indonesian fintech company Silvrr Technology...

Peso slumps as oil prices rise on demand hopes

THE PESO weakened against the dollar on Tuesday due to rising oil prices following China’s easing of its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions. The...

Inflation to stay above 8% this month

HEADLINE INFLATION could stay at the 8% level this month amid supply constraints during the holidays and oil price movements, an analyst said. “For December...

BoJ chief dismisses near-term chance of exit from easy policy

TOKYO — Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Monday brushed aside the chance of a near-term exit from ultra-loose monetary policy but...

Israel regulator awards license for new digital bank

JERUSALEM — Israel’s banking regulator on Sunday approved a conditional license and control permit to a group of entrepreneurs to establish a new online...

Mastercard ordered by FTC to help rivals route transactions

THE FEDERAL Trade Commission (FTC) ordered Mastercard, Inc. to start providing its competitors with customer account information they need to process debit payments, a...

Yields on gov’t debt up on hawkish BSP, holidays

YIELDS on government securities (GS) traded in the secondary market soared across the board on Friday as investors remained on the sidelines amid hawkish...

Peso seen to move sideways on holiday spending

THE PESO is expected to move sideways this week on the further increase of holiday spending, especially as trading reaches the tail-end of the...

BoJ to keep phasing out massive stimulus next year — gov’t panel member

TOKYO — The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is likely to continue phasing out its massive stimulus next year starting with a tweak to its...

New industry, new hope

By Flor G. Tarriela
Vanilla is the second-most expensive spice in the world, next to saffron. Do you know that it grows well in the Philippines? I first...