Ayala Land, BPI Foundation, Bayan Academy join hands to empower social enterprises

November 15, 2021 | 12:02 am

AYALA Corp. Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala leads the inauguration of an Alagang AyalaLand Center for social enterprises at TriNoma in Quezon City. The center is one of 32 Ayala Malls with Alagang AyalaLand Centers supporting more than 400 social enterprises and generating at least 4,000 jobs for the community. It showcases the Sinag Sari-Sari Social Enterprise Store, a joint project of Alagang AyalaLand, BPI Foundation, and Bayan Academy that aims to support the growth of social enterprises, create livelihood and jobs, and aid in the country’s road back to recovery. BPI Foundation with its implementing partner, Bayan Academy, organized the participating Sinag merchants who in turn help local and marginalized communities. The project is an enhancement of the Sinag program made possible through Alagang AyalaLand that provides market access in rent-free spaces in Ayala Malls. With Mr. Zobel are: (from left) Ayala Malls President Chris Maglanoc, Ayala Land Board Member Tony Aquino, Ayala Land President and CEO Bobby Dy, BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco, Bayan Academy Chairman and President Professor Jay Bernardo, BPI Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Cathy Santamaria, and BPI Vice-President and Deputy Head of Marketing Mariana Zobel de Ayala.

Style (11/15/21)

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

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Jewelry sale this month

FROM Nov. 15 to 20, Cebuana Lhuillier, together with Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium, and Just Jewels, will be holding a Gold Rush Sale. Jewelry will be available from 5% off on all items from Cebuana Lhuillier branches and up to 30% off on its premium line and Just Jewels, as well as on eCommerce platforms like Lazada, Zalora, and Shoppee. The sale includes jewelry offered in all of Cebuana Lhuillier’s 2,600 branches, as well as in selected Just Jewels and Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium outlets located in SM and Ayala Malls nationwide. They can also be bought online through Cebuana FB Live Selling and cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com. To know more about the latest offers or to know where to get the best deals for the Black Friday Sale, go to the Cebuana Lhuillier, Just Jewels or Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium Facebook pages.

IKEA Pasay City opens Nov. 25

IKEA is finally opening the doors of its first store in the Philippines in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on Nov. 25. Touted as the biggest IKEA store in the world, the store has a total surface area of 68,000 square-meters (equal to 150 basketball courts) distributed across five floors, two of which house its brick-and-mortar retail space. The other levels are dedicated to its warehouse as well as its call center to handle the e-commerce side of the business. At IKEA Pasay City, visitors will find a Showroom and Market Hall with a total of 8,000 products. There is also a restaurant with a capacity for 850 people that operates according to strict COVID-19 measures, and a marketplace where various Swedish food products will be for sale, which includes a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan products like meatballs, hot dogs, and ice cream. Visitors will end their in-store journey at the Self-Serve area where they can bring home the furniture they chose. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, the store will only be receiving a limited number of people per day via a slot booking system. To schedule a visit to IKEA Pasay City, customers must visit ikea.ph where they must first book a date and time slot, choose number of visitors (up to three); and get a digital token. IKEA Family members will get early access to book shopping slots.

Plant-powered hair with Herbal Essences

ACHIEVE and experience hair that feels good to touch, smells great, and looks it’s best every day with Herbal Essences bio:renew. This shampoo and conditioner combo uses real plant essences endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW. Awarded with the Eco-friendly winner for the 2021 MEGA Beauty Awards, all Herbal Essences bio:renew variants are free of parabens, silicones, glutens, colorants. All shampoos are color-safe and pH-balanced as well, crafted to be safe on color-treated hair. Herbal Essences are available through Lazada or Shopee.

Holiday gift sets from Marks & Spencer

MARKS & SPENCER has festive, ready-to-gift holiday gift sets for easy gift giving. Among these are Beauty Gift Sets. For the beauty fanatic there are the Floral Collection, Nature’s Ingredients Collection, or Men’s Gift Sets. Featuring hand and body lotion, shower cream, and handwash for each set, the gift giver can choose from different assortments like China Blue, Magnolia, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Pink Grapefruit & Watermelon, Aloe & Cucumber, Coconut & Almond, Lemon & Neroli, and Autograph & Woodspice Amber. There is also an extensive selection of food and wine gifts. To view the entire catalogue, visit bit.ly/MandSChristmasGiftSets. Order now in M&S stores or through the M&S Philippines Viber Community at bit.ly/MSPH-VC.

UNICEF Cards for the holidays

THIS CHRISTMAS, gift loved ones with a limited-edition UNICEF Christmas Card box set designed by award-winning graphic artist Robert Alejandro and help send smiles and hope to vulnerable Filipino children. In celebration of the organization’s 75 years of global work for children, UNICEF has teamed up with the artist Robert Alejandro to design greeting cards exclusively for the holiday season and as part of the UNICEF Basket of Hope campaign to help fund lifesaving programs for children. Each limited-edition box set contains 12 cards in four unique designs for Christmas and everyday celebrations. Get one box set signing up to be a monthly donor starting at P600 every month or for every one-time donation of P1,000. Every donation will help provide vulnerable children improved access to learning tools and resources, health and nutrition services such as life-saving vaccines, and emergency support. Visit https://bit.ly/UNICEFCards today while supplies last.

Celebrate the Holidays with Montblanc

MONTBLANC has come up with a selection of thoughtfully curated gifts for the holidays. Whether writing instruments, watches, leather pieces, or even new technologies, there is something special for everyone that carries meaning. Among the suggested writing instruments are the Meisterstuck Around the World in 80 Days Doue Classique Fountain Pen which features engravings of the wave pattern and steamship on the platinum-coated cap, while the barrel is made of a blue translucent lacquer with a subtle gradient effect, the Starwalker Ultrablack Precious Resin Fineliner, featuring a Montblanc emblem that seems to float in mid-air on a grey base; and the Meisterstuck Platinum-Coated Classique Ballpoint Pen. Among the timepieces, choose from the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Ultrablack Watch, which features the Manufacture Worldtime complication with two rotations in 24 hours for different time zones; the Montblanc Star Legacy Full Calendar; and the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere Limited Edition, with only 1,858 pieces. Of the Montblanc leather pieces, there are the M_Gram 4810 Ultrablack Crossover Clutch, Backpack, and Mini Folio, with the backpack equipped with exterior and interior pockets including a padded compartment for laptop, and the clutch and the mini folio can be hand-carried or worn cross-body thanks to the detachable shoulder strap. Montblanc also has tech pieces like the Montblanc MB 01 Over-Ear Headphones x Montblanc Ultrablack Collection, and the Montblanc Summit 2 Stainless Steel and Leather.

Timothy Han / Edition fragrances tell stories

LONDON-BASED fragrance brand Timothy Han / Edition recently released a series of unisex perfumes based on five iconic novels, namely: Simone de Beauvoir’s She Came To Stay, Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, Yukio Mishima’s The Decay of the Angel, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and Joris-Karl Huysmans’ Against Nature. The company actively seeks to disrupt the way people experience scent by crafting olfactory stories that unfold on the skin over time and take the user on a journey. This latest collection is now available in the Philippines exclusively through Adora Department Store. While the perfume industry tends to be more about tradition, Timothy Han / Edition takes book adaptations to the next level by effectively telling narratives in the form of modern unisex luxury fragrances. Similar to turning a page, every spritz draws the user in as the scent gradually unfolds throughout the day. Each fragrance is also handcrafted and produced in small batches and the raw fragrance materials vary from year to year, meaning that each batch contains only a limited stock that is numbered and easily identified for customers to know where their bottle came from. Timothy Han / Edition Fragrances are sustainable and created with 100% responsibly sourced ingredients and a certified organic base of grape alcohol. They also don’t test on animals nor use any animal by-products.

Charriol launches the St. Tropez watch

SAINT-TROPEZ evokes a mood, that of chic French summer style. The famous town inspired a watch, Charriol’s St. Tropez — a timepiece design to match the flair and allure of Brigitte Bardot in And God Created Woman. To celebrate the brand’s 40^th anniversary, Creative Director and Chairwoman Coralie Charriol is releasing the new St. Tropez, a modern take on the bestseller. The hallmark of the St. Tropez watch collection is its rigid, open cable bracelet. Each of these bracelets, adorned with two décor clips, features a unique chain bracelet accompanied by a security chain and safety clasp. Each Charriol cable is manufactured in Switzerland from an exclusive alloy of stainless steel and titanium. They undergo hypoallergenic treatment in a tightly controlled 23-steps production process. St. Tropez watches meet the strict standards of Swiss Made — like all Charriol watches, they are assembled in the brand’s workshops in Switzerland. The new watch builds on the original design with an open dial, a slimmer bezel and more simplified attaché and bracelet clasps. The watch remains a bijoux montre, watch and bracelet combined in one, but with an updated chain design. The new Marina chain features oblate oval links. The signature cable band has been slimmed but remains five cables, and is decorated with engraved oval openwork. The watch is designed in a classic 25mm size, or offered as a 20mm mini. In the Philippines, Charriol is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Rockwell, Trinoma, Central Square Bonifacio High Street, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza, SM Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, The Podium, Newport Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Magnolia, Marquee Mall Pampanga, Rustan’s Ayala Cebu and Abreeza Davao. Also available online at Trunc.ph, Rustans.com and Zalora. Visit ssilife.com.ph and facebook.com/CharriolOfficial, subscribe to our SSI LIFE YouTube Channel, or follow @charriolph and @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

Toy company BebeBata launches online gift service

FILIPINO toy company BebeBata has launched an end-to-end online gift giving service to allow Metro Manila residents to send personalized gifts conveniently within just a few clicks. Founded by moms for moms, BebeBata carries local and international brands that inspire the artists within children, help them learn, and spark their imagination with the endless possibilities of play. BebeBata’s e-commerce website offers interactive, developmental, educational toys and activities that offer countless ways to play. These include the artsy products of European-made Joan Miro, timeless wooden pieces from Tooky Toy, and silicone toys from TookyLand. Book readers can also learn the Filipino and English language from Adarna House and the Indestructibles respectively with colorful picture books and epic tales. For personal care items for parents and babies, opt for Biolane and Tiny Bud Baby Naturals bestsellers or beauty and home essentials from Strokes Beautylab and Scrub Daddy. With over 200 products to choose from at bebebata.com, consumers are able to shop safely and quickly through BebeBata’s online gift service for upcoming birthday, baptismal, and Christmas celebrations. Once customers have selected the gift they would like to give, they can then add the free Gift Wrapping Service with a funfetti or rainbow wrapper with a premium elegant BebeBata ribbon to their cart. Customers will also be given the option to add a personal note printed or handwritten. They can also input the recipients’ shipping details and preferred delivery schedule. Visit www.bebebata.com for a free gift wrap service on all orders. No minimum purchase is required.

Geely Coolray Sport Limited: Crossover conquistador

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

VELO_KAP_image1 — Handsomely styled and executed, the crossover benefits from Geely’s affinity with Volvo.

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Motorists can be brash or cool — or both — in this value-rich subcompact sport ute

A SCANT two years since its global launch, the Geely Coolray has already enjoyed success that other crossovers purveyors can only dream about. In a recent release from the China-headquartered car maker, Geely sold close to 400,000 units. Of course, the company is going to town with this information, touting Coolray as a “sales legend.”

In the large and obviously uber-competitive Chinese market, the Coolray was said to have quickly risen to third place in the compact SUV category sales following its October 2018 launch. A subsequent rollout in 10 international auto markets proved just as successful.

One of these markets is the Philippines, where the brand’s entry was appropriately heralded by the popular nameplate. Despite competing in an already congested niche, the five-seater subcompact crossover also proved a homerun for official Geely importer and distributor Sojitz G Auto Philippines. The numbers don’t lie; since its Philippine launch in 2019 up until October this year, 4,358 Coolrays have been sold. That figure is nothing to sneeze at.

This sales performance is easy to confirm for yourself. A trip through the metro streets these days will not be without a Coolray spotting — which proves there is indeed a good number of them out there. But even as Coolrays aren’t spending much time on the showroom floor, Geely isn’t resting on its laurels just yet — releasing a limited-edition variant for those who want their Coolray a little on the rare side.

I got a chance to drive around in a Coolray Sport Limited (with only 1,000 examples allocated for Filipino buyers) and it proved the perfect way to get acquainted with what has made the nameplate such a hit.

Priced at P1.218 million, the trim takes its place at the head of the Coolray table — with the Comfort, Premium, and Sport variants. Basically, the Sport Limited is a mildly upgraded Sport. It has fitments that, according to Geely Philippines Marketing Services Manager Ryan Isana, are expected to resonate among segment buyers. First, the Sport Limited gets 18-inch turbine-inspired black alloy wheels upon which 215/55 Continental tires are affixed. It also gets a powered tailgate with angle memory. You can use the liftgate button or the one on the key fob to open or close it. Mr. Isana had previously told “Velocity” that this feature frequently appeared on the wish lists of many a Coolray customer — with some of them resorting to after-market options. This is Geely’s quick response.

Finally, trips will be a little more, um, refreshing as the Sport Limited is given ventilated front seats — with independent controls for both the driver and front passenger. Three speed settings are available; or you may choose to switch off the fan altogether if your hiney’s already sufficiently cooled.

The Geely Coolray is a modern-looking crossover inside and out, and I believe that partly explains why it’s flying out of the showrooms. The two-tone interior gives it a snazzy feel that doesn’t feel forced. Complemented by faux brushed-steel accents, it’s quite easy to forget that you’re in a reasonably priced crossover. The decent space applies to both rows; the legs of those seated in the back have sufficient wiggle room.

A seven-inch LED instrument panel display changes hues to correspond to the vehicle’s three driving modes (Comfort, Eco, and Sport). Meanwhile, a large 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen with QD link and Android connectivity function enables efficient tethering. Unfortunately, I’m an iPhone user, and the Coolray has yet to get Apple CarPlay.

Meanwhile, other tech toys on the Coolray include a so-called G-Pilot with an Auto Parking Assist system “for easier parallel and perpendicular parking with a touch of a button,” and a delicious four-camera system which can cobble a 360-degree view of the vehicle. These are nifty features for drivers of all skill levels, that’s for sure.

If we’re going to nitpick, I found the middle console box a little difficult to access. You’ll have to turn your torso a bit to open its lid and access the contents within.

But for sure, the Coolray benefits from Geely’s affinity with Swedish luxury car maker Volvo. It rises on the so-called BMA (B-segment Modular Architecture) platform “developed in partnership with Volvo with the assistance of 100 modular architecture experts from over 20 countries.” As it is engineered, in true Volvo fashion, to exceed safety ratings, the Coolray obviously gets that advantage as well.

Under its hood, the Coolray Sport Limited is powered by the already familiar 1.5-liter turbocharged direct injection engine (delivering 177ps and 255Nm) with seven-speed wet type dual clutch transmission. This output is more than enough to make the Coolray an agile number, but you can still detect some turbo lag when you get a bit too excited with the accelerator. It’s almost as if the system considers for a millisecond if you’re sure you want it to go quick — then it lurches forward upon confirmation.

“The Coolray also has a lot of segment-defying features usually found in more expensive vehicles,” Mr. Isana had told me before, and that’s quite an accurate description. From lights that illuminate in the direction you’re turning into at night, to a tire pressure monitoring system and a remote-start feature, the Coolray punches way above its price point. It even has a panoramic sunroof, for crying out loud.

If you’re all about maximizing value at this price point, then the complement of features alone in the Geely Coolray should get your attention. And then actually test-driving it should seal the deal.

Yields on gov’t debt climb

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

YIELDS on government securities went up last week ahead of the government’s offering of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs), which will start on Tuesday.

Debt yields, which move opposite to prices, went up by an average of 14.49 basis points (bps) week on week, based on the PHP Bloomberg Valuation (BVAL) Service Reference Rates as of Nov. 12 published on the Philippine Dealing System’s website.

At the short end of the curve, yields on 91- and 182-day Treasury bills (T-bills) dipped by 0.31 bp (to 1.2133%) and 0.36 bp (to 1.4391%). Meanwhile, 364-day papers inched up 0.25 bp to fetch 1.6575%.

At the belly of the curve, rates of the two-, three-, four-, five-, and seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) jumped by 21.95 bps (to 2.6323%), 29.22 bps (to 3.2567%), 29.21 bps (to 3.7703%), 24.34 bps (to 4.1571%), and 12.89 bps (to 4.6372%).

At the long end, the rates of the 10-, 20-, and 25-year T-bonds all went up, adding 21.27 bps (to 5.17%), 10.93 bps (to 5.2183%), and 10.04 bps (to 5.2258%), respectively.

“(Government securities) yields continued to sell off over the anticipation on the upcoming RTB issuance adding to current supply pressure,” First Metro Asset Management, Inc. (FAMI) said in a Viber message.

“While GDP (gross domestic product) registered faster growth than expected (7.1% vs 4.9%) in the Tuesday’s release, BTr’s (Bureau of the Treasury) auction of FXTN 10-66 weighed more on yields, sending four- to 10-year rates much higher day-on-day. The FXTN 10-66 auction fetched an average of 5.13% with highs reaching as much as 5.243%.”

The BTr will offer 5.5-year RTBs to raise at least P30 billion ($603 million), with a swap offer for bonds falling due in 2022, it said on Friday.

The bond offer will be formally launched on Nov. 16 and follows the government’s first onshore retail dollar bond issue that raised $1.6 billion in September, helping boost funding for government programs to support the economy’s recovery.

The offer period is set to run from Nov. 16 to Nov. 26, unless the BTr closes it early. The papers will be issued on Dec. 2 and will mature by 2027.

The BTr will suspend the auction of five-year and seven-year Treasury bonds on Nov. 16 and 23 to give way for the offering.

The Treasury is offering these bonds targeted for small investors that want low-risk, higher-yielding savings instruments backed by the National Government.

Meanwhile, after raising P15 billion via the short-dated T-bills on Monday as programmed, the Treasury likewise fully awarded the reissued T-bonds it offered on Tuesday. The offer attracted P55.37 billion in tenders, lower than the P73.59 billion in bids seen when the bond series was last auctioned off on Sept. 28.

The average yield on the reissued 10-year bonds jumped by 44.1 bps to 5.13% on Tuesday from the 4.689% fetched during the previous offering.

On the other hand, the country’s gross domestic product rose by 7.1% year on year in the July to September period, turning around from the 11.6% decline a year earlier but slower than the 12% annual expansion in the second quarter due to the strict lockdown in August amid a surge in cases.

For this week, the biggest lead for the bond market will be the Treasury’s RTB offer.

“Market will remain defensive and better sellers especially in the belly securities as the BTr is set to launch their RTB offering which coupon is yet to be determined,” FAMI said.

“The immediate market catalyst will be the pricing of the 5.5-year retail Treasury bond [this] week. Yields have already adjusted sharply higher in anticipation of the issuance,” ATRAM Trust Corp. Head of Fixed Income Jose Miguel B. Liboro said in an e-mail.

“The RTB’s pricing, and expected subsequent demand, will set the tone for trading over the next few weeks as we approach yearend and the seasonal reduction of trading activity as financial institutions wind down,” he added. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Sotto, Adelaide 36ers edge Cairns Taipans, 91-87, in preseason game opener

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

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By John Bryan Ulanday

KAI Sotto had a decent debut as the Adelaide 36ers claimed a gritty 91-87 overtime win over the Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason games opener yesterday at the MyState Bank Arena in Tasmania.

Mr. Sotto made the most out of his limited action, finishing with seven markers, five rebounds, an assist and a block in 19 minutes ignited by an and-one slam dunk for his first NBL points.

The 7-foot-3 Filipino sensation started for the 36ers and won the jump ball before going for a baseline jam at the 7:01 mark of the second period for a 29-20 Adelaide lead.

He also finished strong for the 36ers, draining a crucial bucket in the last 43 seconds of regulation for a 74-72 lead before his teammates took care of business in extra session.

Daniel Johnson (33 points) and Tad Dufelmeier (14) led the way for Adelaide, which also gifted CJ Bruton a triumphant NBL head coaching debut.

Adelaide takes a one-day breather before plunging back to action tomorrow against the stacked Perth Wildcats, who finished runner-up to defending champion Melbourne United last season.

The 36ers will officially open their campaign in the NBL regular season opener on Dec. 3, also against Perth, after the Blitz preseason tourney slated until Nov. 28.

JAPAN B.LEAGUE
Dwight Ramos got two on his Gilas Pilipinas brother Thirdy Ravena as the Toyama Grouses swept the San-en NeoPhoenix in the Japan B.League over the weekend.

The Grouses escaped with a thrilling 90-89 win yesterday to complete a two-game sweep after running away with a 92-77 win on Saturday.

Dwight Ramos racked up a double-double output of 16 points and 10 rebounds on top of three assists for the Grouses, who also spoiled the big game of Thirdy Ravena.

Mr. Ravena finished with 26 markers, nine boards, five assists and three steals but missed the game-tying free throw at the buzzer for a tough San-en defeat.

It was Mr. Ravena who also drained the crucial triple for San-en in the last two seconds to tie the game at 88-all before Keijuro Matsui came to the rescue with a go-ahead bucket in the next possession.

Ramos and Toyama copped their third straight win to improve at 4-10 while Mr. Ravena and San-en succumbed to their sixth consecutive loss for a 3-11 card.

Investors scoop up Monde Nissin shares on MSCI inclusion, better Q3 earnings

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

By Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte, Reporter

MONDE Nissin Corp. ended last week as the most actively traded stock after investor sentiment was spurred by improvements in its recent earnings report and its inclusion in the latest Morgan Stanley Capital International’s (MSCI) index rebalancing.

Data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed a total of 219.28 million Monde Nissin shares worth P3.72 billion were traded from Nov. 8 to 12, making the stock the most actively traded in the PSE last week.

Since its market debut on June 1, the stock’s price inched up 0.25%.

“[Monde Nissin] was included in the latest MSCI rebalancing. With a lot of speculation leading up to the announcement, it only further pushed trading activity on the stock,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message on Friday.

The MSCI announced last week that Monde Nissin was one of the two firms, with the other being Ayala-led AC Energy Corp., that will be added to the MSCI Philippine index by end-November. No companies previously included in the roster were deleted.

The MSCI prepares research and data to tack and construct indices for global investors.

Meanwhile, Monde Nissin’s improved quarterly earnings also boosted market sentiment last week, Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said.

“After the release of Monde’s earnings in the third quarter [last week], there were improvements in the performance, vis a vis, when compared to the second quarter of this year,” Mr. Pangan said in a text message on Friday.

“This enticed investors to trade on the stock reaching a high of P17.8 in price [on Friday] but profit taking ensued thereafter, closing at P16.96 as they lowered their guidance from mid-single-digit growth to low [to] mid-single digit, thus making it among the most actively traded,” he said.

Last week’s trading session saw Monde Nissin shares start the week declining by 0.12% from its Nov. 5 finish, then improving by 2.8% to close at P16.88 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday saw its share prices decline by 1.66% before posting 2.17% gains on Friday.

In a disclosure to the exchange last week, Monde Nissin reported that it swung to profitability in the third quarter, generating an attributable net income of P2.86 billion from incurring a P2.15-billion net attributable loss in the second quarter. The company said its improved performance in the period was boosted by lower tax and interest rates.

Year on year, the company’s third-quarter attributable net income grew 8.7% to P2.86 billion, while sales for the period went up by 4.1% to P17.69 billion.

For the first nine months, Monde Nissin’s attributable net income declined by 5.3% as revenues declined to 3.6% to P11.1 billion. The company adjusted its revenue growth guidance as costs for raw materials such as power, labor, transportation, among others, increase.

“Near term, it will continue to be challenged on its margin pressures until it could turnaround its Quorn business possible in the medium term,” Diversified Securities’ Mr. Pangan said.

Meat alternatives brand, Quorn, declined by 3.8% from a year ago in the third quarter amid labor shortages in the United Kingdom. However, due to foreign exchange rates, Monde Nissin was able to book a 3.6% increase in revenues to P3.6 billion.

Mr. Pangan said he expects the company to continue reporting improved earnings results to achieve its lowered growth guidance. Meanwhile, Regina Capital’s Mr. Limlingan said the guidance might be possible.

“[Fourth-quarter Christmas] season and looser restrictions will definitely help so there is a possibility,” Mr. Limlingan said.

Mr. Pangan placed Monde Nissin stock’s immediate support at P16.60 and its resistance at P17.80.

“Like most stocks, the perception of how it will perform in [the fourth quarter] will be tied to economic mobility and inflation, among others,” Mr. Limlingan said.

Red tide warning for Carigara, Leyte lifted

November 15, 2021 | 12:01 am

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it lifted the red tide warning for Carigara, Leyte after samples from the area tested negative for paralytic shellfish poison.

The BFAR said in its 30^th shellfish bulletin that new red tide warnings were also issued for Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, and Samal, Bataan.

Areas that are still positive for red tide are Dauis and Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Biliran Island; Daram Island, Maqueda, Villareal, Cambatutay, Irong-Irong, and San Pedro Bays, Western Samar; Cancabato Bay, Leyte; and Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar.

Other areas with red tide are Dumanquillas Bay, Zamboanga del Sur; Baroy, Lanao del Norte; and Lianga Bay, Surigao del Sur.

All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang harvested from areas with red tide are deemed unfit for human consumption. Other marine species sourced from the same areas can still be eaten with proper handling.

Red tide occurs due to high concentrations of algae in the water. Human consumption of contaminated shellfish may cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, which affects the nervous system.

Typical symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include headache, dizziness, and nausea. Severe cases may trigger muscular paralysis and respiratory problems. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Analysts’ expectations on policy rates (Nov. 18)

November 15, 2021 | 12:00 am

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) is widely expected to keep rates steady on Thursday to continue supporting the Philippine economy’s recovery. Read the full story.

GMA Network, Inc. to hold annual stockholders’ meeting on Dec. 9

November 15, 2021 | 12:00 am

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 12, 2021

November 15, 2021 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday, November 12, 2021.

How does the Philippines compare with regional peers in terms of access to decent water, sanitation and hygiene facilities?

November 15, 2021 | 12:00 am

Peso may rise on remittances, BSP review

November 14, 2021 | 11:02 pm

THE PESO is seen to extend its climb versus the greenback this week on expectations of robust remittance inflows and a continued accommodative stance from the central bank.

The local unit finished trading at P49.85 per dollar on Friday, gaining 31.5 centavos from its P50.165 close on Thursday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The currency also appreciated by 48 centavos compared with its close of P50.33 per dollar a week earlier.

The peso’s close on Friday was its strongest in nearly two months or since it ended at P49.79 per dollar on Sept. 15, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The increase in the country’s foreign exchange buffers caused bullish sentiment and supported the peso, he said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday reported that gross international reserves as of end-October increased month on month by 1.3% to $107.946 billion. It likewise gained by 4% from the $103.802 billion a year earlier.

At this level, the dollar buffers are enough to cover 7.8 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.4 times based on residual maturity. It is also equivalent to 10.8 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

Another major lead last week was the stronger-than-expected economic growth in the previous quarter, a trader said.

The country’s gross domestic product rose by 7.1% year on year in the July to September period, turning around from the 11.6% decline a year earlier but slower than the 12% annual expansion in the second quarter due to the strict lockdown in August amid a surge in cases.

The trader said the market will monitor the upcoming remittance data this week. The BSP is scheduled to release September remittance data on Monday.

In August, cash remittances rose annually for the seventh straight month by 5.1% to $2.609 billion. This brought inflows for the first eight months to $20.38 billion, up by 5.7% from the same period of 2020.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ricafort said investors will also be monitoring the BSP’s monetary policy meeting on Thursday.

All 20 analysts polled by BusinessWorld last week expect the Monetary Board to keep interest rates unchanged at its policy review on Thursday. Economists said the BSP will keep its policy support as there is still not enough evidence that economic recovery is already self-sustaining.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno in October said there appears to be no need to adjust policy settings at least until the end of 2021 and stressed prematurely hiking interest rates could harm economic recovery. He said the elevated inflation seen currently is driven by low supply and is better addressed by non-monetary measures.

For this week, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P49.50 to 50.10 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P49.65 to P50. — Luz Wendy T. Noble