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‘LUBES’ flow within Shell Auto Workshops

From left are GCash Enterprise Sales Head Martin Kristopher Limgenco II, Shell Lubricants Philippines Digital Manager Ika Halili, Shell Lubricants Philippines National Sales Manager for Indirect Channel Paz Famador-Tiongco, Shell Lubricants Philippines Vice-President Jackie Famorca, Shell Lubricants Philippines Marketing and Business Development Manager Leo Mendoza, Francorp Philippines AVP-Consultancy Dana Cuneta, Shell Helix Brand Manager Chi Malabanan, and Shell Lubricants Philippines Business Development Manager Jensen Garcia. — PHOTO FROM SHELL LUBRICANTS

By Dylan Afuang

SHELL HELIX Auto Workshops — a hundreds-strong network of service centers around the country that are a franchise of Shell Lubricants — appear to balance the interests of both business and consumer. These are owners of out-of-warranty vehicles and the service centers themselves, respectively.

Shell Lubricants, part of Shell companies in the Philippines, provides its franchised outlets with Shell Helix’s line of engine oil and lubricants, along with various business tools. In turn, these outlets carry and deliver a wide range of services and products that promise to keep their customers’ cars in prime condition.

Underscoring the importance of the company’s partnership with the workshops, Shell Lubricants Vice-President Jackie Famorca, at a recent company event, stated, “Shell Helix is a credible partner that can help maximize your business potential by connecting you to people and providing you with an established network of experts who can help you succeed.”

Staged by Shell Philippines, that event was the “Shell Helix Fast Track: Auto Workshop Business Summit” held last week, which gathered the representatives of its affiliate workshops and members of the media for the purpose of sharing “current trends, tools, and topics” within the partnership among the auto outlets and vehicle lubricant manufacturer.

Franchise Shell Helix vehicle service centers include Auto Casa, Car Crew, and Car Doctor that carry the Shell Helix Auto Workshops branding, and they can be located using the brand’s workshop online locator (shell.com.ph/motorists/helix-workshop-locator.html).

And what manner of business-boosting services and strategies have and will benefit Helix franchises, existing and prospective? As detailed by Shell Lubricants Business Development Manager Jensen Garcia at the summit, these fall under the “LUBES” categories.

Firstly, franchise workshops can “Learn.” That means “For Shell Helix (franchises), we have certain programs that put (importance) on (workshops’) learning,” Mr. Garcia explained.

Through the brand’s Master Mechanic Program and Workshop Academy, mechanics of affiliate service centers aim to deliver better service by keeping abreast with the latest automotive technologies, gaining a mechanic certification, and earning rewards as they complete courses in the program.

Franchise workshops can “Upgrade,” because “In every customer journey, it begins with awareness,” as the executive explained.

To establish the shops’ branding and make them easier for customers to identify, Shell Helix can provide to them exterior and interior signage, display racks for products, advertising graphics, and facade design — some and all bearing Shell’s logo and signature red-and-yellow color combination.

Affiliate workshops can achieve “Business development” through the company’s providing of various equipment, consultancy services, and advantage promos exclusive to the merchants.

Included in the catalog of equipment are vehicle servicing paraphernalia that range from compact items such as car creepers and engine scanners, to larger units such as wheel balancer and two-post and scissor-type car lifters.

Workshops have the opportunity to “Elevate” their products and services online. “We want you to future-proof your businesses… on-ground but most especially online,” Mr. Garcia pitched.

Franchise workshops being included in the Shell Helix Workshop Locator is chief among these online marketing initiatives, and this is supplemented by virtual exposition for workshop owners, vouchers for Shell products on marketplaces, and social media advertisements.

Last in “LUBES” is “Shell Lubricants,” also known as the “most preferred lubricant of vehicle owners globally,” as boasted by the Shell Helix executive.

Serving a variety of engines is Shell Helix’s line of engine oils that come in fully and semi-synthetic and premium mineral formulas. Complementing this range are Shell’s brake and clutch fluid, coolant, and oil filter.

And likely coming to Shell Helix Workshops soon are the Shell Helix SUV, touted as the first oil suited for the motors of such vehicles, and Shell Helix with Pure Plus technology, an oil that the manufacturer claims is made from 99.5% natural gas.

Los Angeles City Council acts to spare Marilyn Monroe house from demolition

ZILLOW.COM

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to launch a process to designate actress Marilyn Monroe’s former home, where she died of a drug overdose in 1962, a historic and cultural monument, blocking plans to demolish the property.

The motion to initiate consideration of the Spanish Colonial-style house in LA’s Brentwood section for historic preservation was introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park and approved unanimously the same day, according to her spokesperson Jamie Paige.

In response to the 12-0 vote, the city’s Board of Building and Safety Commissioners immediately revoked a demolition permit that had been issued a day earlier. The City Council motion itself also bars major alterations to the property while review of its potential status as a landmark is under way.

Ms. Paige said she visited the house on Thursday and that no work had been done at the site, currently owned by a little-known entity called Glory of the Snow Trust.

Marilyn Monroe purchased the single-story, 2,900-square-foot (270-sq-meter) house in the early 1960s for $75,000 after the end of her third marriage, to playwright Arthur Miller, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was the only residence the actress, who spent part of her childhood in an orphanage and foster care, ever independently owned.

The screen legend, star of such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot, and The Misfits, was found dead in a bedroom of the home in August 1962 at the age of 36. The cause of death was ruled to be acute barbiturate poisoning.

The Times reported that the half-acre (0.20-hectare) property, which included a swimming pool and guest house, was purchased in 2017 for $7.25 million by Glory of the Snow LLC, then managed by a hedge fund executive. It was sold to the Glory of the Snow Trust for $8.35 million earlier this year.

No representatives for the trust have been identified by Councilwoman Ms. Park, and the reason for the planned demolition remained unclear, Ms. Paige said. The Times said the trust is not listed in property records alongside any person’s name.

Word that the gated, four-bedroom hacienda at the end of a cul-de-sac was slated to be torn down sparked expressions of outrage on social media, the Los Angeles Times reported. Ms. Park, whose council district includes Brentwood, said her office had received hundreds of calls urging her to take action to spare the house.

“For people all over the world, Marilyn Monroe was more than just a movie icon,” Ms. Park said at a news conference, calling the performer “a shining example of what it means to overcome adversity.”

The actress named the home Cursum Perficio, a Latin phrase meaning “My journey ends here,” which adorned tiles on the home’s front porch. — Reuters

Ghana’s 2022/2023 cocoa output expected to be off target by 11%

REUTERS

ACCRA — Cocoa output from the world’s second biggest producer Ghana for the 2022/2023 season is expected to miss by around 11% the target of 750,000 tons due to smuggling and illegal gold mining on farmland, sources told Reuters.

Ghana last week brought forward the closure of the 2022/2023 season by a month, and decided to start the 2023/2024 season on Sept. 8, a month earlier than usual, saying it needed to tackle disruptions in the internal marketing of cocoa.

Neither the government, nor the cocoa regulator COCOBOD, provided details about the disruptions.

Two sources, one from COCOBOD and the other from the state-run Cocoa Marketing Co. (CMC), told Reuters that Ghana’s cocoa output slumped due to increased smuggling to neighboring Ivory Coast and Togo where the beans fetched higher prices.

Around 50,000 tons of cocoa was lost through smuggling, the sources said. A director of a cocoa exporting company and a cocoa pod counter who both requested anonymity, said, however, that continuous illegal gold mining on farmlands in Ghana, known locally as galamsey, was to blame for Ghana’s falling cocoa output.

“The smuggling to Ivory Coast and Togo has been minimal and cannot explain everything. The problem is deeper, and the galamsey are to be blamed,” the director said.

For the 2023/24 season which is expected to start on Friday, Ghana’s cocoa regulator expects output to reach 800,000 tons, according to the COCOBOD source.

“Our projections are 800,000 tons for the new season. The weather conditions have been more favorable,” the COCOBOD source said.

COCOBOD will be seeking $1.2 billion to finance cocoa purchases for the 2023/2024 season, compared with $1.3 billion it raised in the previous season, the COCOBOD source and a source from the CMC said.

“We are looking for around $800 million from the private bank consortium and $400 million from the private sector for the 2023/24 season. We are confident that, as usual, we will receive more than we need because we have the trust of investors,” the CMC source said.

COCOBOD and Ghana’s government did not respond to requests for comment.

The optimism from the Ghanaian regulator is not shared by exporters and pod counters, who forecast 2023/2024 output at between 650,000 tons and 700,000 tons due to the impact of galamsey mining, which has led to the destruction of cocoa plantations in the past three years.

“I am not as optimistic as the CMC and COCOBOD about this year’s production. We have been observing a decrease every year for the past three years, and it is lasting because the plantations are entirely destroyed by gold miners,” another director of a cocoa exporting company said.

“These plantations are not being replaced,” the director added. — Reuters

40 companies join Manila FAME’s Design Commune this year

One of Manila FAME’s main show features, the Design Commune serves as a showcase of brand new home, fashion, and lifestyle pieces that have been created under the product development program of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions’ (CITEM).

The 71st edition of the trade show will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City on Oct. 19-21.

For this year’s edition, local exhibitors collaborated with three Filipino designers who served as product specialists: Tony Gonzales, a creative director, consultant, and curator of various projects, such as the Pinyapel of the Design Center of the Philippines; and design duo Rita Nazareno and Gabriel Lichauco of Nazareno/Lichauco, who highlight contemporaneity and innovation in traditional craft and materials.

A total of 40 companies are included in the roster of the product development program, with more than 300 newly developed products.

To register as a buyer, visit https://fameplus.com/registration/buyer-registration.

Yields on gov’t debt rise

YIELDS on government securities (GS) traded in the secondary market increased last week as inflation accelerated last month, pushing yields higher.

GS yields, which move opposite to prices, climbed by 4.29 basis points (bps) on average week on week, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service Reference Rates as of Sept. 8 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

Rates were mixed last week as yields on the 91-, 182- and 364-day Treasury bills (T-bills) declined by 5.28 bps, 0.11 bp and 7.02 bps to 5.6553%, 5.9867%, and 6.193%, respectively. 

Meanwhile, the belly of the curve went up as yields on the two-, three-, four-, five-, and seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) rose by 4.11 bps (6.2274%), 6.13 bps (6.2582%), 9.04 bps (6.2950%), 11.9 bps (6.3383%), and 12.89 bps (6.4154%), respectively.

At the long end, the rates of the 10-, 20-, and 25-year debt papers also increased by 10 bps (6.4936%), 2.89 bps (6.6532%) and 2.65 bps (6.6551%), respectively.

Total GS volume traded on Friday fell to P13.63 billion from P31.13 billion a week earlier.

Yield movements last week were mostly inflation-related, a bond trader said in a Viber message.

“The market sentiment shifted last week after the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) released its inflation range of 4.8% to 5.6%, representing a lower bound that was already higher than July and indicated a higher month on month figure as well,” the bond trader said.

Globally, yields remained elevated with US Federal Reserve officials still uncertain on their policy path, the bond trader added.

“The market reverted to defensiveness through the week as it digested what the August inflation figure implies moving forward and [that the BSP governor] has already indicated that inflation will likely stay above the target range for the fourth quarter,” the bond trader said.

Noel S. Reyes, chief investment officer for Trust and Asset Management Group at Security Bank Corp., said the market started the week defensively given higher global yields.

“Latest CPI (consumer price index) data, which was worse than consensus and further increases in global yields,… added to the defensive tone,” Mr. Reyes said in an e-mail.

Headline inflation quickened for the first time in seven months to 5.3% in August, up from 4.7% in July but slower compared with the 6.3% print a year earlier.   

The CPI settled within the BSP’s 4.8-5.6% forecast range and marked the 17th consecutive month that inflation surpassed the central bank’s 2-4% target.

Year to date, inflation averaged 6.6%, still above the BSP’s full-year forecast of 5.6%.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. last week said inflation is expected to return within the central bank’s target by the first quarter of 2024.

He added that the central bank may hike its inflation forecast of 5.6% for 2023 at their Sept. 21 meeting.

“GS yields will likely remain elevated for an extended period of time since higher inflation expectations will probably push back the BSP’s timeframe to start cutting rates,” the bond trader said.

The trader added that the Monetary Board will likely keep rates unchanged at its meeting, but continue to signal a readiness to tighten if inflation will continue to persist.

For this week, the bond trader expects the market to trade sideways and take its cue from the result of this week’s bond auction.

The government will offer P30 billion in reissued seven-year bonds on Tuesday that have a remaining life of six years and 10 months.

“Although inflation remains a concern, market participants have become used to that already and will just try and ride out the volatility for now,” the bond trader added.

Mr. Reyes said yields may continue to move sideways as the market awaits the Fed’s Sept. 19-20 meeting and the BSP’s own review a day after.

“Recent inflation was supply-side driven and should not be a factor for MB (Monetary Board) to turn on a hawkish bias during the meeting. Core inflation was lower and supports keeping the policy unchanged. If ever the MB moves, it will be to guard against pressures on the peso if the Fed raises another time,” he added. — A.M.P. Yraola

Philippine Labor Force Situation

The unemployment rate in the Philippines inched up to 4.8% in July, bringing the number of jobless Filipinos to 2.27 million, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday. Read the full story.

Philippine Labor Force Situation

Generating trust by demonstrating value to society, economy

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE-UNSPLASH

The pandemic response and efforts to broaden access to vaccines and treatments at the height of COVID-19 are being seen as key strengths of the biopharmaceutical industry, according to a recent Ipsos survey.

The said survey was commissioned by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and conducted in 11 countries with a representative sample of 11,000 people across both high and lower-income countries.

The survey found that about 68% of respondents agree that research-based pharmaceutical companies have a leading role in advancing new technologies, such as better, more effective medicines or vaccines that are useful in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 62% agree that pharmaceutical companies are doing all they can to develop solutions to COVID-19. Moreover, 67% agree that the industry has a leading role in the development of new technologies that could be useful in response to future public health crises, such as pandemics.

The research-based pharmaceutical industry also generated more trust compared to other sectors measured, such as technology, banking, and insurance. Academic institutions, health agencies, and regulatory affairs agencies are the most trusted institutions, followed by the research-based pharmaceutical industry which solicits marginally higher levels of trust than governments and the media.

The public recognized research-based pharmaceutical innovation as beneficial to society and the economy, with 60% agreeing that they make positive contributions to society; 63% agreeing that they contribute to improving health, globally; and 55% agreeing that companies make a positive contribution to the economy.

In the Philippines, the role of the biopharmaceutical industry has been in transforming healthcare by bringing research and innovation that save and improve the quality of life of Filipinos. In a recent interview on TV5’s program Agenda, Roche general manager Dr. Diana Edralin emphasized that the industry’s impact to society is on ensuring that the biopharmaceutical innovations benefit patients and, in the process, contribute to growing the Philippine economy.

Also the president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), Dr. Edralin said that the industry has introduced 575 new drugs in the country over the last five years. These are for cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, oncology and other diseases that impact the health and well-being of Filipinos. In the past two years, the industry also conducted 154 clinical trials in the country. The majority of the R&D process — in terms of investments and duration — happens during the clinical trial process.

Dr. Edralin also emphasized the need for policies and regulations that enable innovation as well as multi-stakeholder partnerships that have been critical in the success of the introduction of innovation. At the same, the industry has introduced a number of collaborations among local government units that initiated capability building and medicine access schemes, among others.

One of these collaborations with the local governments is the PHAPCares Foundation partnership with the La Union Provincial Government and two of its municipalities, Bauang and San Juan.

Last week, PHAPCares President Lotis Ramin signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David to facilitate and fast track the implementation of Universal Healthcare in the province.

“We have recognized, through the pandemic, that our healthcare system was really put under extreme pressure. If there’s one thing that was clear during the pandemic was that the Filipinos are resilient. But we cannot count on pure resilience alone and so sustainability is a very important element in how we design the way moving forward, how we take the lessons from the pandemic. Another thing that we have learned is the importance of coming together,” said Ramin, who is also country president of AstraZeneca Philippines.

Under the partnership, PHAPCares will provide the expertise to support the health advocacy on WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), and oral health and other disease in the LGU sites. PHAPCares will also help train community health volunteers and provide the necessary materials to support the barangay health workers and stations among others. The Foundation will bring with them their experience in medicine donation programs that have exceeded P1 billion in value since the start in 2003. It has also trained more than 630 responders under the Earthquake, Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Since 2015, the Foundation has also served 5,000 families through its medical outreach programs.

Since the start of the pandemic, the biopharmaceutical industry has demonstrated how it is committed to save and improve the lives of our people while contributing to reignite the economy. In tackling current and future health challenges, the biopharmaceutical industry will continue to play a crucial role, and show that public-private collaborations will be as important as ever.

 

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP).  PHAP represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are in the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.

Style (09/11/23)

Lush launches SpongeBob SquarePants limited edition collection

Known for innovating packaging free cosmetic items – such as bath bombs, shampoo bars, and solid bar soap – Lush is partnering with Paramount to introduce a range of SpongeBob SquarePants themed, plastic free products, to encourage shoppers to consider the sea and choose plastic free. In support of Paramount’s SpongeBob SquarePants “Operation Sea Change” campaign, which kicked off last year, Lush has worked with the team there to create a range of six new products across bath, shower, and skin care. The Spongebob collection includes the SpongeBob Soap (P395) featuring a blend of cleansing and brightening fresh pineapple juice, buchu oil, and extra virgin coconut oil; the SpongeBob Bath Bomb (P525), a passion fruit-scented blend of enzymic pineapple powder, sweet wild orange oil, and popping candy; the Surprised Patrick Bath Bomb (P525; only available for a linited time), a sweet vanilla and coconut-fragranced bathbomb featuring coconut milk powder; the Squidward Bubble Bar (P595) featuring seaweed absolute, violet leaf absolute, and Persian lime oil; the Home Sweet Pineapple Body Balm (P645) made with Fair Trade organic cocoa butter and shea butter, fresh pineapple juice and davana oil; and the Krabby Bathy Bath Gift (P2,995), featuring two fizzy and fruity bath bomb buns, scented with bergamot and lime oils, which sandwich a bubble bar patty with a cheerfully tropical fragrance courtesy of buchu and Sicilian lemon oil, and topped by two lettuce and tomato-shaped soaps perfumed with watermelon twist. In the Philippines, Lush is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and has branches at the Alabang Town Center, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Bonifacio High Street, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, and TriNoma. It is available also in Zalora and Trunc.com.

Avon brings back matte lipsticks

Matte lipsticks, a big hit in the mid-2010s, are coming back in a big way and they’re a lot more comfortable and lip-friendly than before. With its strong color payoff, even without a full face of makeup, a good matte lipstick can be all a woman needs to serve a strong look. But the catch always was that in exchange for all the long-wearing color, the lipsticks were very drying. But that’s not the case anymore. New formulations offer the benefits of long-wearing comfort and constant hydration. The new Avon Hydramatic Matte Lipstick features a central patented hydrating core powered by an exclusive blend of hydrating and skin-protecting ingredients. The core contains hyaluronic acid that helps draw moisture to the lips, and glycerin to help make them super soft and plump. Each core is surrounded by a high-pigment matte color. The result gives a color payoff that stays completely matte and gives lips all-day hydration. The lipstick line is available in six high-impact shades — Hydra Garnet, Hydra Plum, Hydra Pink, Hydra Rosy, Hydra Ruby, and Hydra Siren Red. These and other makeup products are available at https://avonshop.ph/collections/hydramatic, through Avon representatives, or Avon shops at Lazada, and Shopee.

Alabang Town Center holds lifestyle fair

Alabang Town Center will hold the Travel in Style Lifestyle Fair from Sept. 14 to 17, at the mall’s Activity Center during mall hours. The Travel in Style Lifestyle Fair brings together a selection of merchants, offering shoppers an opportunity to explore and purchase quality products from renowned brands. They include top-tier outdoor brands like The North Face, Columbia, ROX, and Quiksilver, promising gear and clothing fit for an adventure. For those in search of premium luggage labels, Samsonite, American Tourister, The Travel Club, Wanderskye, and Herschel offer both style and functionality. Wandering feet can find comfort with options from Res Toe Run, Birkenstock, and Havaianas. For beauty and cosmetics, seek out offerings from The Face Shop and Happy Skin. For kitchen and home essentials, LocknLock, SESOU Nature Source, and Coleman showcase a variety of items. As for accommodations, consider luxurious stays at Vivere Hotel, The Bellevue Manila, or Acacia Hotel, while Sunlight Air offers a chance to take a flight to one’s chosen destination. The Travel in Style Lifestyle Fair is not just about shopping; it’s an immersive experience designed for travel enthusiasts. Creative installations will be scattered throughout the event space, providing backdrops for Instagram-worthy selfies and photos. There will also be 20 major prizes and 10 minor prizes in the Travel in Style Lifestyle Fair’s raffle draw. A minimum purchase of P1,000 in single or accumulated receipts from any of the participating Travel in Style Lifestyle Fair merchants at Alabang Town Center between Sept. 14 and 17, gives customers the chance to join the raffle. The deadline for submission of raffle entries is Sept. 17, while the raffle draw will be on Sept. 18.

Binakol found in Shibuya’s Rakuten Fashion Week

The Manila Fashion Festival expanded its reach beyond the Philippine borders through PH MODE x TYO, a collaborative international iteration of the festival. Created in partnership with STYLEM, Japan’s leading fabric trading company, PH MODE x TYO takes center stage twice a year in Tokyo during Rakuten Fashion Week. For its second walk on the Rakuten Fashion Week stage earlier this month, Filipino fashion label .ARCHIVES championed the traditional binakol fabric with creations by designer Ellis Co. Together with .ARCHIVES, five Filipino designers showcased an exclusive collective ensemble by merging Japan’s quality fabrics with binakol, a woven fabric originating from Northern Luzon, inabel fabric of Ilocos, and piña (pineapple) fabric. For more information about .ARCHIVES and its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, check their social media page on Instagram.

Home grooming services through PetPal

PetPal, the innovative tech startup under 917Ventures, introduces home grooming services in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, including Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite. Starting at P750, PetPal’s Home Grooming Services ensures that pet owners can now enjoy the luxury of having pets groomed in the familiar surroundings of their homes. Beyond grooming, PetPal’s all-in-one digital pet care platform offers a range of services from licensed and accredited veterinarians. The platform operates daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., ensuring flexibility for clients with varying schedules. Additionally, the Pet Pawrtal, a digital pet booklet, ensures that pet owners have all the essential information about their pets at their fingertips, making the healthcare journey seamless. The pricing structure for the home grooming services is set based on the size of the pet: Small pets weighing between 1- 10kg are priced at P750, medium-sized pets between 11 and 18kg are at P850, large pets weighing from 18 to 26kg come in at P1,000, and for extra-large pets weighing 27kg and above, the cost is at P1,200. Those interested in availing of Home Grooming Services can visit www.petpal.asia/home-grooming-visit/, choose a preferred schedule by selecting a date and time, and enter basic details such as name and e-mail address. After this, expect to receive a confirmation via email, followed by a calendar invite.

All-new Nissan Z, new GT-R now here

Nissan Philippines President Juan Manuel Hoyos poses with the new GT-R and all-new Z. — PHOTO FROM NISSAN PHILIPPINES

NISSAN PHILIPPINES, INC. (NPI) has now made available the refreshed version of the GT-R, along with the all-new Z. “We are thrilled to introduce (these models) to our passionate and dedicated fans in the Philippines,” said NPI President Juan Manuel Hoyos. “These models represent the culmination of Nissan’s legacy of innovation, blending cutting-edge technology with the spirit of our iconic vehicles. Whether you’re seeking heart-pounding performance or a thrilling driving experience, these models deliver.”

Boasting a new look on its front and rear, the Nissan GT-R gets more downforce, with the modifications not only giving it a new look but contributing to the vehicle’s enhanced on-road stability.

On the other hand, the Z gets a dynamic design that is a nod to its historic nameplate, which is then combined with “contemporary flair.” The iconic headlights and taillights, along with the 240Z-inspired grille, create an unmistakable presence on the road. Under the hood is a powerful 3.0-liter turbo engine delivering 400hp and 475Nm. Said to provide a “well-rounded driving experience,” the Z gets an enhanced suspension system and upgraded brakes. It also comes with new technology features such as a rearview monitor, a digital dashboard on Sport Mode, and front and rear sonar sensors.

Additionally, the Z is equipped with the full suite of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features, including new additions such as Forward Crash Warning, Intelligent Cruise Control, ABS and traction system, Advanced Airbag System, and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection.

The all-new Nissan Z will be offered in two variants: the Premium MT equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, and the Premium AT equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. The model will be available for reservation starting Sept. 21. Priced at P3.888 million, the Z comes in Ikazuchi Yellow, Passion Red, Everest White, Boulder Gray Pearl, Seiran Blue, and Black Diamond Pearl.

The new Nissan GT-R is priced at P12.445 million and comes in Gun Metallic, Bayside Blue, Pearl White, Vibrant Red, Pearl Black, and Ultimate Silver. Interested customers may contact Nissan Quezon Avenue for more details.

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 8, 2023

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday, September 8, 2023.

 

Peso may trade sideways

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO could trade sideways against the dollar this week ahead of the release of US inflation data that could affect the US Federal Reserve’s next policy move.

The local unit closed at P56.63 versus the dollar on Friday, strengthening by 16 centavos from Thursday’s P56.79 finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines’ website showed.

Week on week, however, the peso inched down by 3.50 centavos from its P56.595 close on Aug. 30.

The local unit opened Friday’s session at P56.74 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P56.785, while its intraday best was at P56.56 against the greenback.

Dollars traded rose to $1.62 billion on Friday from $1.45 billion on Thursday.

The peso appreciated on Friday following the dollar’s slight decline in Asian trading, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

For this week, the peso could move sideways against the dollar as the market awaits the release of August US consumer and producer inflation data, which could affect the Fed’s decision this month, Mr. Ricafort said.

The US central bank raised borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps) last month, bringing its target rate to a range between 5.25% and 5.5%.

It has hiked rates by 525 bps since it began its tightening cycle in March last year.

The Federal Open Market Committee will hold its policy meeting on Sept. 19-20.

For this week, Mr. Ricafort expects the peso to range from P56.30 to P56.80 per dollar. — AMCS

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