BPI ASSET Management and Trust Corp. (BPI AMTC) has launched a unit investment trust fund (UITF) that will allow its clients to invest in US stocks without needing a dollar account or exchanging peso to dollars.

The Asian Bankers Association (ABA) celebrated its 36^th annual event last Nov. 14-15 in the Philippines, hosted by Philippine National Bank (PNB), gathering a large group of top bankers and finance executives from 25 countries from Asia and key markets across the globe. ABA provides a forum for advancing the cause of the banking and financial industry in the region by promoting regional economic cooperation. ABA’s membership is composed of 100 of the leading banks and financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. With this year’s theme, “Reshaping the Asian Financial Landscape,” the conference tackled the relevant topics of sustainable financing, cyber-security and digitalization. The speakers were experts who shared their experiences and knowledge in the current trends of banking. Attendees discussed and shared experiences as they tackled the most relevant developments facing the Asian financial landscape today. At the forefront was the integration of digital technology into the financial landscape and how digital banking and the wave of technologies are now disrupting the banking industry.

THE PESO strengthened on Thursday amid risk-on sentiment following the passage of a US legislation supportive of Hong Kong’s autonomy.

YIELDS ON term deposits declined on Wednesday after the central bank chief said a rate cut before the year ends is still possible and following the fresh liquidity expected from the revision of the definition of deposit substitutes.

ASIA UNITED BANK Corp. (AUB) saw its net profit increase in the third quarter, thanks to interest income from loans and receivables.

THE THRIFT BANKING arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has cut short its offer period for its P2-billion maiden bond issue after it saw robust market demand.

RIZAL COMMERCIAL Banking Corp. (RCBC) is looking to join the virtual banking scene in the country by next year.

KOBE, Japan — Japan’s central bank can hold off expanding stimulus for now as robust domestic demand offsets the hit to exports from overseas risks, its board member Makoto Sakurai said, suggesting no additional easing was likely in the near term.

THE PESO strengthened on Wednesday as US President Donald J. Trump said Washington’s “phase one” trade deal with China is inching closer to completion.

BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno is positive that the change in the definition of deposit substitutes to exclude interbank borrowings so they are not subject to reserve requirements will help boost liquidity in the financial system.

THE GOVERNMENT made a partial award of the reissued Treasury bonds (T-bond) it auctioned off yesterday as rates increased, with investors opting for shorter tenors.

THE GOVERNMENT’S initiatives geared towards digitalization of payment transactions will foster opportunities for “coopetition,” according to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Executive Vice-President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Angelito “Lito” M. Villanueva.