Philippines Business News

MPIC books higher core income in H1

Conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) delivered higher core earnings in the first half despite a challenging environment, supported by strong results from its power and water businesses.

Prices of building materials climb at fastest pace in over 3 years

Growth in retail prices of building materials in Metro Manila in July hit its highest level in over three years, driven by the faster increase in prices of painting materials, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Prime Infrastructure eyes early finish for Rizal hydro

Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. is racing to bring its $2.57-billion hydropower project in Rizal online ahead of schedule.

Rice tariff collection rises 18 percent

The government’s rice tariff collection from January to July rose by 18 percent on an annual basis to almost P13 billion, driven by higher import volume and weaker peso, data from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) showed.

Sans political ads, GMA fumbles in H1

Broadcast leader GMA Network Inc. is struggling to grow its business outside the election cycle, nearly wiping out its profit in the first half due to the absence of political ads.

Sideways trading with upward bias likely

Share prices may move sideways this shortened trading week, with a slight upward bias, on hopes that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be less aggressive in raising interest rates.

Siyam-siyam

We have had about two weeks of almost non-stop rain even in the absence of a typhoon. In Tagalog, we call it siyam siyam.

SM Prime cautious on new residential launches

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the integrated property arm of the SM Group, is keeping a cautious stance when it comes to residential project launches for the remainder of the year.

To build or not to build: Dito weighs entry into data centers

It is becoming more and more tempting for Dennis Uy’s Dito Telecommunity Corp. to hop on the data center bandwagon, but it will likely do so only when it turns profitable.

Understanding the investor

Behavioral economics introduces psychology as the determining factor in how the consumer behaves.

What’s next for Dusit Thani Manila? ALI mulls options

Discussions are ongoing about the future of Dusit Thani Manila, a five-star hotel in Makati whose land lease will expire next year.

Trump asks Pentagon to slash military drills with South Korea

XPPen Marks Its 21st Anniversary with "DOODLE THE WORLD", Bringing Creativity Beyond Boundaries

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- XPPen, a leading global digital art innovation brand, proudly celebrates its 21st anniversary. Marking 21 years of empowering creators worldwide, XPPen introduces this year's theme, "DOODLE THE WORLD," with a series of creative experiences, including the Global Art Toy Design Contest co-hosted by XPPen and TOP TOY, a globally renowned art toy brand, the upcoming Artist Ultra 14 drawing display, artist conversations, the Doodle & Spin Game on official we

New AI financing backstops allows compute buyers more control over business models

Teen boy among 6 dead including suspect in Michigan shootings; girl survived

MICHIGAN — A teenage boy and four adults were killed Friday in shootings that prompted a wide search for the fleeing gunman, whose body was ultimately found in a wooded area alongside one of his victims, authorities said. A teenage girl survived and was in stable condition, police said. Chad Hickman, 39, was found dead after a wide search in Missaukee County, police said. Police released the ages and genders of the victims on Saturday but did not specify whether they were related to each o

Europe's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary is inaugurated in a small Polish village

KONOTOPIE, Poland — An enormous statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be Europe's tallest was inaugurated on Saturday in a small Polish village, in the presence of legendary anti-communist leader Lech Walesa. Hundreds of people took part in the consecration of the monument, which towers 55.6 meters (182 feet) over Konotopie in central Poland, the home of fewer than 150 people. While helicopters scattered miniature red roses over the crowd, priests in white robes celebrated Mass and

Globalstar Confirms Successful Launch of All 8 HIBLEO-4 Replacement Satellites

Satellites launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reach orbital plane Globalstar HIBLEO-4 Launch Globalstar confirms the successful launch of all 8 HIBLEO-4 replacement satellites aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. COVINGTON, La., Aug. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT), a next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, today announced the successful launch and deployment of its latest satellites, marking another significant milestone in the continued e

PCSO Lotto Results | August 17, 2026

Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in Sicilian museum heist on Italian holiday

MILAN — Thieves stole four works attributed to the Sicilian Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from a regional museum in the Sicilian city of Messina on the Italian Ferragosto holiday, the news agency LaPresse reported Sunday. The thieves bypassed alarm and security systems Saturday evening at the MuMe regional museum to make off with three of the five surviving panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated from 1473, as well as the double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and dead

Cautious trade seen as focus turns to BSP meet

PHILIPPINE SHARES may move sideways this week as investors digest companies’ mixed financial results and keep a cautious stance as they look ahead to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy meeting. On Friday, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.14% or 9.05 points to close at 6,297.30, while the broader all shares […]

Labor group pushes P200 wage hike

MANILA, Philippines — A labor group on Sunday called for a dialogue with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as it urged him to certify as urgent a proposed P200 nationwide wage increase. In a statement, the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition asked Marcos to meet with workers and their unions, saying it had repeatedly sought a dialogue with the President. "If the P85 increase that already went through the Wage Board can still be held up in court, then a legislated wage hike is all the more timely. The h

Southwest monsoon to dump more rain — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — More rain will fall as the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to affect Luzon and the western part of Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said Sunday. Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda-Carpio said occasional to heavy rain was possible in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, and Bataan. She said heavy rain may also drench Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Batanes, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Tarlac,

Air support kicks in as record Belgian wildfire jumps in size

BELGIUM — Crucial air support swung into action Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has mushroomed in size since breaking out two days ago in a hard-to-access nature reserve. More than 250 firefighters and emergency workers were battling to contain the blaze in the High Fens park near the German border, an area of fragile peatlands and pine forests popular with hikers. Authorities described the conditions Sunday as still "challenging," but two of t

Analysts seek scrutiny of P7.2-T 2027 budget, transparency beyond hearings

THE proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 should face tighter scrutiny over unprogrammed appropriations and confidential and intelligence funds as the Philippines’ limited fiscal space increases the need for stronger safeguards and transparency, analysts said.