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MOODY’S Investors Service slashed its economic growth outlook for the Philippines to below six percent this year, factoring in the impact of the Luzon lockdown and the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

THE Philippines on Tuesday became the first country to shut all financial markets until further notice, amid the implementation of a lockdown in Luzon aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

THE GOVERNMENT has rolled out P27.1 billion in funds to help contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and aid affected sectors, with $1 billion more in financing under negotiation, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday ordered the lockdown of the entire Luzon island to contain a rapid novel coronavirus outbreak, suspending work and public transportation and regulating food and health services, according to his spokesman.

THE country’s top companies are beginning to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on their businesses, warning of lower consumer demand and continued operational disruption in the coming weeks.

MONEY sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFW) climbed at its quickest pace in nearly two years in January as diversified deployments helped boost inflows amid global uncertainties.

BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno on Monday said they may consider a 50-basis point (bp) policy rate cut at its meeting on Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve’s emergency rate cut triggered policy easing by other central banks as they try to soften the blow of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the global economy.

THE government will boost spending this year including on infrastructure and social programs to shield the economy from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, softer global demand, and the Taal Volcano eruption at the start of the year, according to the Budget department.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may cut rates anew this week following the move of global central banks to ease policy amid fears of slower economic growth and lower demand for key commodities including oil due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

SOME shopping malls in Metro Manila will be closed starting today, after the government urged mall operators to suspend operations during the month-long “community quarantine” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) fears are expected to spur more volatility in the already bearish stock market, as Metro Manila starts the first work week under “community quarantine.”

By Norman P. Aquino and Gillian M. Cortez A nine-hour curfew starting at 8 p.m. on March 15 will be enforced in Manila, the capital...