WB cites need to lift restrictive rules to fuel economic activity
LIFTING regulations that restrict competition can help spur economic growth, according to a study conducted late last year by the World Bank Group that noted that Philippine markets are more concentrated -- with few players -- and more restrictive than those of regional peers.
Energy dep’t downplays El Niño’s possible impact
THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) has dismissed fears of a possible adverse impact of a “weak” El Niño on the country’s power supply next quarter as it pointed to measures that are in place and the entry of new energy capacity this semester.
Customs moves to speed up action on flagged shipments
THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) will be setting up a special desk that will track alerted shipments, as the agency intensifies its watch on illegal imports.
As trade war bites, Indonesia chases deals to push exports
JAKARTA -- Indonesia is going all out to strike trade pacts with about a dozen countries and blocs as the US-China trade war hurts its shipments and threatens to worsen a current-account deficit.
Inflation likely slowed further in Feb.
INFLATION likely maintained its descent in February as rice prices continued to drop, analysts said in a BusinessWorld poll, with some even betting the rate slid to below four percent.
PHL slips to 5th in Women in Business survey
A NEW SURVEY showed 37% of senior management positions at Philippine companies are occupied by women, well above the global average of 29%.
BSP targets further charter amendments to look into deposits, conglomerates
THE CENTRAL BANK will seek further amendments to its charter to relax deposit secrecy rules and look into conglomerates that own banks to further boost their regulatory powers.
Peso beats Asian peers in surprise win
THE PHILIPPINE peso has defied a yawning current-account deficit to emerge as Asia’s best-performing currency in February. And it may continue to surpass its peers.
Philippine factory business improvement weakest in six months
PHILIPPINE MANUFACTURERS in February registered their weakest improvement in operating conditions in six months after the softest rise in new orders in seven, according the latest survey compiled by IHS Markit for Nikkei, Inc.
Policy uncertainty offsets mineral potential to weigh on Philippines’ attractiveness to miners
THE PHILIPPINES has continued to languish near the bottom of an annual survey of mining jurisdictions by Canada-based think-tank Fraser Institute as a negative policy environment is about to mark its seventh year, although Fitch Solutions said in a separate note that it expects an easing of industry restrictions to lead to a slight recovery of nickel — of which the country is a leading global source — starting this year.
Official inflation target kept at 2-4% till 2022
STATE ECONOMIC MANAGERS are keeping their 2-4% inflation target until 2022, as the overall increase in prices of widely used goods is expected to moderate further.
BSP sees even slower Feb. inflation
INFLATION likely eased further in February, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Thursday, citing chances that the overall increase in prices of widely used goods fell below four percent as rice prices dropped.