ANALYSTS remain selective on bank stocks amid mixed earnings performance and the differing impacts of loosening monetary policy and ongoing trade tensions on their bottom lines.

With the emergence of the Internet in the 1990s and the improvement in broadband in the early 2000s, online banking has started becoming the norm.

UP UNTIL May 1994, no foreign bank was permitted to enter the country apart from four foreign lenders that were already operating at that time. In February 1995, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), under Republic Act (RA) No. 7721, approved the application of 10 out of 22 foreign banks that had expressed interest. Under RA 7721, only when one of the 10 banks pulls out could another offshore lender enter the Philippine financial system.

THE FURTHER EASING in domestic inflation buoyed investor sentiment for much of the first quarter this year even as upside risks — mostly from the external front — remain.

ANALYSTS are painting a rosy picture for banking stocks following the sector’s mixed performance in the first quarter and the central bank’s decision to slash reserve requirements, but advise investors to remain selective on which ones to include in their respective portfolios.

THE REAL ESTATE sector has consistently been one of the economy’s growth drivers for years. As the government pushes for development outside the country’s capital, expanding into other urban centers is a matter of timing and pace for many developers as they search for strategic places to expand their businesses and diversify their portfolio.

THE OFFICE workplace is usually associated with partially enclosed spaces and fixed working hours. Amid technological innovations and circumstances, however, it is no exception to changes. At present, the office could mean a flexible and open workspace — a stark contrast to the cramped environment employees are accustomed to.

INVESTORS were cautious last year on property stocks amid high interest rates that increased borrowing costs, but market watchers still consider the sector on their shopping lists account of strong demand for residential, office and retail spaces.

ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud computing, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are among the things that make up Industry 4.0 — more commonly known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe). As these technology breakthroughs are becoming more evident in business and day-to-day living, how prepared is the country’s financial system in harnessing its potential benefits and at the same time, mitigating its potential costs?

THE PHILIPPINES is among the most vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters and climate change. Last year saw 24 tropical depressions, 20 tropical storms, 16 typhoons, one super typhoon, and at least 13 earthquake episodes.

YEARS of robust economic growth have given rise to a middle-class with increased disposable incomes. Some of these incomes are splurged on consumption and luxury items, while some are put off in savings accounts for good use. But with measly interest rates, who would want to let their cash sit idly by? What better use is saved cash for?

LAST MONTH saw the Malaysian-lender CIMB Bank formally launching its operations in the Philippines, more than a year after it received the central bank approval to establish banking operations in the country.