Business

 Aboitiz Equity's 9-month profit hits PhP15.9B 

MANILA -- Conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) has reported a slightly lower profit in the first nine months of 2017, largely due to foreign exchange (forex) losses.AEV told the local bourse on Thursday its net income reached PhP15.9 billion, 7 percent lower than last year’s... Read More

Coffee industry roadmap to globalize local coffee 

INDANG, Cavite -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is optimistic that with industry support, the country’s local coffee products can join the league of the world’s most competitive coffee brands.DTI Cordillera Regional Director Myrna P. Pablo, National Industry Cluster... Read More

Ministers, officials hold preparatory meets for ASEAN Summit

CLARK, Pampanga -- Ministers and senior officials of the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are holding a series of preparatory meetings here from Nov. 10 to 11 for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila next week.The Committee of Permanent... Read More

BSP keeps key rates anew

MANILA – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept its key policy rate at 3 percent again on Thursday, and monetary officials attributed this to a manageable inflation outlook.Aside from keeping the reverse repurchase rate (RRP) at 3 percent, the central bank’s policy-making Monetary... Read More

Peso sustains strength vs greenback, PSEi recovers

MANILA -- Questions about the prospects on the approval of the Trump administration’s tax reform bill bode well for the Philippine peso, as the local currency continued to stay strong against the greenback while the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) recovered on Thursday.The peso finished... Read More

Hitachi Koki brand to be renamed "HiKOKI" to reflect global direction

TOKYO/Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ -- Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. (http://www.hitachi-koki.com/ has announced its change of corporate name to Koki Holdings Co., Ltd., effective June 1, 2018.The major manufacturer of power tools and life-science equipment will also rebrand its full line of power tools known as... Read More

PLDT’s 9-month net income up 7%

MANILA --Telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT’s net income for the first nine months of 2017 increased by 7 percent to PHP23.2 billion from PHP21.7 billion in the same period last year, driven by the sale of its subsidiaries Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc. and SPi... Read More

World leaders set to arrive in PH for ASEAN Summit this weekend

CLARK, Pampanga -- World leaders are expected to start arriving in the Philippines this weekend to attend the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Manila.Most of the leaders will land at Clark International Airport, over 100 kilometers from the Philippine... Read More

BSP hikes 2018 inflation forecast to 3.4%

MANILA -- Philippine central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) on Thursday kept its 3.2 percent average inflation forecast for 2017 and 2019 but hiked the 2018 projection to 3.4 percent due partly to the sustained rise of oil prices and an expected rise in domestic liquidity.In a... Read More

Gov’t effort to ease doing biz to benefit MSMEs

MANILA -- Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) stand to benefit from the government's intensified efforts to ease doing business in the country, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry said.Among the measures to fast-track the process in applying for business requirements include... Read More

AboitizPower posts 4% hike in 9-month net income

MANILA -- Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) reported a four-percent improvement in net income to P15.7 billion for the first nine months of the year due to fresh contribution from the GNPower Mariveles thermal power plant and the strong performance of its various hydropower plants.Due to a... Read More

DTI Negosyo Centers nationwide now 661

MANILA -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has established 661 Negosyo Centers nationwide, the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED) said.BSMED said 342 of these Negosyo Centers are in Luzon, 146 in Visayas, and 173 in Mindanao.The DTI is mandated to establish Negosyo... Read More

DMCI Holdings profit hits P11.7-B, up 19%

MANILA -- Diversified engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings, Inc. grew its profit by 19 percent in the first nine months this year to PHP11.7 billion, driven by its coal energy, real estate, construction and nickel mining businesses.Its net income for July to September quarter also surged by 18... Read More

Power business boosts MPIC profit in 9 months

MANILA -- Infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) on Wednesday reported a 22-percent surge in profit in the first three quarters on the strength of its expanded presence in the power industry.MPIC told the local bourse its consolidated core net income reached PHP11.3... Read More

Ex-DTI chief pushes for MSMEs inclusive growth

MANILA -- Former Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), or the economic integration of the 10 ASEAN member states, has been successful in improving trade and investments in the region, however much remains to be done, particularly making the AEC more... Read More

SSC welcomes planned House probe vs. 4 SSS execs

MANILA -- The Social Security Commission (SSC) welcomed the House of Representatives’ move to investigate four Social Security System (SSS) officials who allegedly tapped the agency’s accredited stock brokers for their personal gains. In a statement issued Wednesday, SSC said it is... Read More

NEA, Buseco agree to end dispute

MANILA -- Following a consultative meeting called by the Senate Committees on Energy and on Cooperatives chaired by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri, respectively, on Tuesday, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, Inc.... Read More

ING Bank Manila focuses on closing more market deals

MANILA - - Dutch financial giant ING Bank, N.V. targets to focus on having more market deals starting this year to take advantage of the sustained robust growth of the Philippine economy.In a briefing Wednesday, new ING Bank Country Manager Hans B. Sicat said more opportunities are expected partly... Read More

BSP launches PESONet system

MANILA - - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) launched on Wednesday the Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer and Operations Network (PESONet) to increase the number of electronic payments in the country. In his speech during the PESONet launch at the BSP office in Manila, BSP Governor Nestor... Read More

Peso remains strong vs. USD; PSEi dips

MANILA -- The Philippine peso remained strong against the US dollar Wednesday but the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dipped anew, pulled by earnings report of some companies.The local currency finished the day at 51.30 from 51.33 a day ago, which a trader said was not in tune with the strong... Read More