Business

Google challenges European Commission's USD5-B antitrust fine

Google challenges European Commission's USD5-B antitrust fine

July 19, 2018, 12:31 pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday challenged the USD5-billion antitrust fine that the European Commission has slapped on the world's Internet leader for competition breach, and vowed to appeal the case. Pichai denied the European Commission charge that Google has restricted… Read More

PH economic program vindicated by Fitch's 'BBB' rating

PH economic program vindicated by Fitch's 'BBB' rating

July 18, 2018, 8:30 pm

MANILA -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr. said the Monetary Board will continue to implement its price stability mission to help boost the domestic economy’s upward trajectory. Espenilla's assurance came after Fitch Ratings affirmed its investment grade rating… Read More

Local stocks rise, Peso weakens as USD surges

Local stocks rise, Peso weakens as USD surges

July 18, 2018, 7:30 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose for a second day in a row Wednesday but the peso fell after the US dollar powered forward. This, following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before the US Senate Tuesday night (Manila time) painting a rosy picture of the US… Read More

SMEs get big tax breaks under TRAIN

SMEs get big tax breaks under TRAIN

July 18, 2018, 5:21 pm

MANILA -- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) received tax breaks amounting to billions of pesos for the first six months of 2018 alone under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act as they are now covered by a higher value-added tax (VAT) threshold and can now choose from two… Read More

TDF rates register mix results Wednesday

TDF rates register mix results Wednesday

July 18, 2018, 5:03 pm

MANILA -- Rates of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Term Deposit Facility (TDF) posted mixed results on Wednesday as banks continue to weigh their options vis-à-vis the impact of latest economic developments here and abroad. Data released by the central bank showed that average rate of… Read More

Middle East firms eye franchising of Filipino brands

Middle East firms eye franchising of Filipino brands

July 18, 2018, 4:14 pm

MANILA -- Companies from the Middle East are eyeing to bring Filipino brands to their continent, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Director Sam Christopher Lim revealed on the sidelines of the Franchise Asia Philippines (FAPHL) 2018 International Conference in Pasay City Wednesday. Lim noted… Read More

LTFRB orders Hype to explain P2-per-minute charge

LTFRB orders Hype to explain P2-per-minute charge

July 18, 2018, 2:58 pm

MANILA -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a show cause order to new ride-sharing firm Hype Transport Systems Inc. for reportedly imposing a PHP2-per-minute travel charge. The Board said that Hype should explain, within five days from receipt of the… Read More

India seeks increased trade, tourism ties with PH

India seeks increased trade, tourism ties with PH

July 18, 2018, 1:57 pm

NEW DELHI, India -- India is vigorously pushing for increased trade and tourism ties with the Philippines, as the country is turning to Southeast Asia to accelerate its economic development through its “Act East” policy. Additional Director of the Indian Chamber of Commerce Bodhisattwa… Read More

Car importers bare 11% sales dip in H1

Car importers bare 11% sales dip in H1

July 18, 2018, 1:48 pm

MANILA -- Sales of imported automotive vehicles in the country declined by 11 percent in the first half of the year to 43,138 units from 48,344 units in the same period in 2017, car importers disclosed. The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) reported Wednesday that the… Read More

Chinese steel firm scouts 300-ha land for USD3.5-B project

Chinese steel firm scouts 300-ha land for USD3.5-B project

July 17, 2018, 7:14 pm

MANILA -- A Chinese steel manufacturer is looking for a 300-hectare parcel of land in the Philippines, preferably in Mindanao, for its USD3.5-billion investment project in the country. Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza said the Panhua Group seeks to put up an… Read More

Peso, PSEi improve on positive news overseas

Peso, PSEi improve on positive news overseas

July 17, 2018, 7:12 pm

MANILA -- The drop in world crude prices broke the prolonged slide of the Philippine peso against the greenback while local stocks recouped recent loses in Tuesday's trading. The local unit ended the day at 53.39, an improvement from the previous day’s 53.53 close, which a trader said is in line… Read More

PEZA seeks charter amendment

PEZA seeks charter amendment

July 17, 2018, 7:11 pm

MANILA -- Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza said there is a need to amend the PEZA law, so the investment promotions agency (IPA) will be protected from uncertainties brought about by the second package of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).… Read More

Economist discounts remittance-related boost for peso

Economist discounts remittance-related boost for peso

July 17, 2018, 6:22 pm

MANILA -- An economist of ING Bank Manila does not expect the Philippine peso to get enough boost from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) despite "within-target" remittance growth as of May 2018. The peso closed Tuesday at 53.39 to a US dollar, an improvement from the previous day’s 53.53. On… Read More

Vehicle sales down by 13% in H1 2018

Vehicle sales down by 13% in H1 2018

July 17, 2018, 6:19 pm

MANILA -- The combined vehicle sales of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) member firms in the January to June period declined by 12.7 percent this year to 171,352 units from 195,772 units in 2017. This, after sales of… Read More

BTr rejects bids for 7-year T-bond

BTr rejects bids for 7-year T-bond

July 17, 2018, 6:19 pm

MANILA -- The Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) auction committee on Tuesday rejected all bids for the seven-year Treasury bond (T-bond) after investors asked for high yields on expectations of further hikes in interest rates in the near term. BTr offered the debt paper for PHP15 billion but… Read More

DTI rolls out livelihood kits for Marawi folk

DTI rolls out livelihood kits for Marawi folk

July 17, 2018, 3:49 pm

MANILA -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will roll out more livelihood starter kits for residents of war-ravaged Marawi City, following the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) approval of PHP872.7 million in funding under the government’s Bangon Marawi program. On Monday,… Read More

AFP, PCG may augment BOC anti-smuggling task force

AFP, PCG may augment BOC anti-smuggling task force

July 17, 2018, 2:51 pm

MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is in talks with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) regarding plans to expand its anti-smuggling task force by teaming up with these agencies to further strengthen the campaign against the illicit trade, the… Read More

Build, Build, Build 'light-years ahead,' economist says

Build, Build, Build 'light-years ahead,' economist says

July 16, 2018, 9:34 pm

MANILA - - The Philippines’ journey towards becoming a first world country is further gaining ground as the Duterte administration pushes through with its ambitious infrastructure program, a noted economist said. University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) co-founder and economist Dr. Bernardo M.… Read More

Oversight body's guidelines for 3rd telco out on Friday

Oversight body's guidelines for 3rd telco out on Friday

July 16, 2018, 9:33 pm

MANILA -- The terms of reference (TOR) governing the entry of that elusive third player in the local telecommunications industry is set to be known on Friday. This, after an inter-agency oversight committee finally concludes its deliberations on which of two proposed TORs will be applied. The… Read More

FMIC execs keep PH ’18 output projection at 7-7.5%

FMIC execs keep PH ’18 output projection at 7-7.5%

July 16, 2018, 9:30 pm

MANILA -- First Metro Investments Corporation (FMIC) officials remain bullish about the Philippine economy despite rising inflation, keeping its 2018 growth projection between 7 to 7.5 percent. This optimism is reportedly due to expectations of strong domestic demand, government infrastructure… Read More