Your daily market briefing

Philippines’ Alternergy issues $32m green notes in debt market debut Asian Power

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu-based Aznar Shipping Corp. is seeking to raise P737 million through an initial public offering (IPO) to expand its fleet and shipping operations across the Visayas. The shipping operator has filed a registration statement with the SEC to sell up to 1 billion primary common shares, plus an option for 100 million

Existing industrial estates can help the Luzon Economic Corridor convert stronger connectivity into investment by providing companies with operating environments that are ready today, Aboitiz Economic Estates said following a visit by a US Trade and Development Agency delegation to LIMA Estate in Batangas.

CB&I Commissions First All-Steel LNG Tanks in the Philippines ChemAnalyst

By Katherine K. Chan, Reporter CASH REMITTANCES rose to its highest monthly level in July this year as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sent home more money ahead of the school season, with the weak peso also providing some support, preliminary central bank data showed. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), cash remittances coursed […]

GCASH operator Mynt, Inc. has room to expand its financial products and services as it moves toward a planned P92.32-billion initial public offering (IPO), according to Reyes Tacandong & Co. Senior Adviser Jonathan L. Ravelas. Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, Mr. Ravelas said Mynt could build on its existing e-wallet […]

YUCHENGCO-LED House of Investments, Inc. (HI) said its financial services and school businesses accounted for most of its earnings in 2025, as the listed holding company outlined plans to increase recurring income across its portfolio. In a statement on Monday following its 2026 annual stockholders’ meeting, HI said consolidated net income rose 27% to P3.6 […]

A weak peso may raise the value of some investments of Maharlika Investment Corp, although the impact on its net income is likely to be immaterial, the fund manager’s top official said.

THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) has drafted rules of procedure for the administrative proceedings it handles against its supervised institutions (BSIs) and their personnel. According to a draft circular, the central bank wants to establish a summary proceeding framework designed to resolve legal and regulatory violations of BSIs in line with The New Central […]

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS coursed through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have continued to rise, with concerns on account management emerging as the top issue, a senior official said. Complaints seen so far this year have already breached the over 120,000 recorded last year, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told reporters on Friday, which she attributed […]

THE PHILIPPINES could emerge as Southeast Asia’s second fastest-growing major economy over the next decade, with growth averaging 5.8% through 2035, according to a report by Bain & Company, DBS Group Holdings, and Vriens & Partners. In the Southeast Asia Outlook 2026-2035 report released on Wednesday, the Philippine economy is projected to grow at an […]

ASIALINK FINANCE Corp. (AFC) aims to disburse P28 billion under its new business loan product as it moves into larger-ticket and longer-term financing programs for medium enterprises. The company has launched GrowBiz Loan, a financing program that offers qualified medium enterprises up to P100 million in funding, with repayment terms of up to seven years […]

2GO GROUP, Inc. has partnered with SMX Convention Center, Central Business Park (CBP), and SM Estates to establish a centralized permit-processing and logistics service for events at SMX Convention Center and the Mall of Asia Complex. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding to establish 2GO-SMX Events Logistics, which will serve as a single point […]

The real estate investment trust of Megaworld Corp. has secured regulatory approval for its largest asset infusion to date, elevating its property portfolio to P122 billion.

GLOBAL INVESTMENT firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) has sold its entire 19.9% economic interest in Lopez-led First Gen Corp. for about P25.77 billion, weeks after First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH) rejected KKR’s bid to acquire more shares in the power producer.

PROPERTY DEVELOPERS continue to build socialized housing even as government price ceilings limit how much they can earn from the segment, with analysts pointing to regulatory requirements and lower-cost development models as reasons the projects remain part of their portfolios.

ALSONS POWER SUPPLY Corp. (APSC), the retail electricity arm of Alsons Power Group, has signed an agreement to supply electricity to two manufacturing plants of Makoto Metal Technology, Inc. in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. In a statement on Monday, APSC said it will supply electricity to Makoto Metal’s two plants at the Mactan Export Processing Zone […]

Alcantara-led Alsons Power Group has secured a deal to supply electricity to Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc.’s two manufacturing plants in Cebu.

The Yuchengco Group will be leaning on its insurance, education and energy ventures to protect its margins and sustain profitability in the face of mounting risks troubling Philippine firms.

Moody’s takes minority stake in Phil Ratings to deepen PH debt market The Manila Times

AI transforming, not cutting PH outsourcing jobs–study Inquirer.net

ASEAN Weekly: AI drives nuclear push in Thailand and Vietnam; Philippines steps up geothermal, waste-to-energy Reccessary

Bond yields were quoted higher in a volatile market, dealers said.

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading slightly lower on Wednesday morning, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.07 percent. The ASPI was down 15.72 points at 21,246.41, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was flat, up 0.15 points (0.00 percent) at 5,976.82. Positive contributors to […]

Bond yields were quoted steady to lower on selected tenors, dealers said.

Sri Lanka rupee at 332.00/40 to US dollar spot, bond yields consolidate economynext.com

Sri Lanka rupee at 330.70/331.20 to US dollar spot, bond yields lower economynext.com

The GDP for the second quarter of 2026 at constant price (2015) has increased to Rs. 3,029,816 million from Rs. 2,908,570 million which was reported in the second quarter of 2025. The GDP growth rate for the second quarter of year 2026 has been reported as 4.2 percent positive growth. The overall Agricultural activities declined […]

Rupee weaker, bond yields up

The joint offer by Arcasia Investment & Trading (Pvt) Ltd and ATX Partners (Pvt) Ltd closed on September 12

Rumesh Pathirage, Sri Lanka's gold medal contender, endures big setback ahead of Asian Games Moneycontrol.com

Can a Digital Economy Agreement Refresh India-Sri Lanka Economic Integration? orfonline.org

Indonesia urges continued talks on trade deal with Sri Lanka ANTARA News

Sri Lanka opens four offshore oil and gas blocks to investors Gulf Business

Q2 growth is slower than the 2026 Q1 expansion

Real estate, tech stocks drag Sri Lankan shares lower Prop News Time

“Political independence and economic independence are inseparable.” — Deng Xiaoping By Prof. Asoka.S.Seneviratne Introduction President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent pronouncements on economic independence strike a vital chord for a post-default nation navigating international debt restructuring. However, moving from political rhetoric to genuine economic sovereignty within a three-to-five-year horizon requires more than declarations of intent. Drawing […]

JPMorgan to launch long-awaited 'frontier' local currency debt index Reuters

Australian shares fell on Tuesday as weak commodity prices hurt mining and gold stocks, while rising crude oil prices heightened inflation worries and reinforced expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate hike. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.5% to 8,709.6, as of 0005 GMT. The benchmark ended 0.1% higher on Monday. The Middle East conflict-linked surge in oil prices has resurfaced inflation worries, with investors raising their bets on an interest rate hike at the Fed’s next meeting on Wednesday. Traders are pricing in a 90% chance that the Fed will raise interest rates by 25 basis points at its upcoming policy meeting to fight inflation related to high oil prices, according to CME’s FedWatch. Australia will hold its next rate decision meeting at the end of this month, where some economists expect rates to be hiked by 25 bps to 4.60%. On the bourse, the mining sub-index fell 2.2% to its lowest level since early August, declining for a fourth straight session as iron ore and copper prices hit a three-week low. Top players BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue dipped between 1% and 2.5%. Gold miners hit a near four-week low, plunging 2.7% after prices of the precious metal fell to a more than one

MUMBAI: Indian government bonds were set for a sharp selloff on Tuesday as traders returned from a long weekend to a hostile mix of surging oil prices, rising US Treasury yields and the Reserve Bank of India’s planned bond sales to drain excess liquidity. The benchmark 6.94% 2036 bond may trade in a 7.01%-7.05% range, a private-bank trader said. It closed at 7.0233% on Friday, up 6 basis points for the week. Markets were closed on Monday for a local holiday. Brent crude neared $110 per barrel as the Gulf war widened, stoking inflation fears and rattling global debt markets. The US 10-year Treasury yield tested the pivotal 5% mark, Germany’s 10-year yield has climbed above 3.51%, its highest since 2009, while Japan’s 10-year yield has returned to 3%. The global bonds selloff has accelerated ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision on Wednesday, as investors braced for a possible hike after data on Friday showed US consumer prices accelerated in August. For India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, higher crude prices threaten to stoke inflation, widen the import bill and weaken the rupee, while higher global rates could strengthen the case for domestic rate hik

Australian shares trended higher on Thursday, with broad-based gains led by banks, while oil prices extended losses as concerns about Middle East supply disruptions eased. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.4% to 8,726.7, as of 0007 GMT. The benchmark closed 0.3% higher on Wednesday. Oil prices fell more than $1 but remained above $100 a barrel as reports trickled in that Saudi Arabia was offering additional crude cargoes through Oman. Rising crude prices have fanned inflation anxiety, potentially strengthening the case for central banks to lift interest rates to keep price pressures contained. Overnight, the US Federal Reserve unanimously raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, and central bank chief Kevin Warsh pointed to a growing need for further policy tightening. The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to hold its next policy meeting on September 28 to 29, wherein markets imply a near 90% probability of a hike to 4.60%. Financials advanced as much as 1.7% to a one-week high. The ‘Big Four’ banks rose between 0.5% and 1.5%. Consumer discretionary stocks rose 0.8%, while real estate stocks snapped an eight-session losing streak to rise 0.7%. Bucking the trend, energy stoc

Brent crude futures fall 73 cents, or 0.67%, to $108.02 a barrel

SINGAPORE: Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained in the single digits at four on Tuesday, down from seven a day earlier, preliminary shipping data showed on Wednesday, falling well short of the 10-day average of 18. The drop in traffic through the waterway that handled one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply before the Iran war comes after attacks in the region intensified. Of the total on Tuesday, two ships were exiting and two were entering, according to the data. No very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers were involved. Some ships may be sailing through the waterway with their transponders turned off and they are therefore not counted. One very large gas carrier, Salute, carrying around 470,000 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas exited via the Iranian route, while Panamax-sized tanker Nautilus, carrying around 510,000 barrels of naphtha, exited via an unknown dark route. The two ships that entered were both laden, with one being a short-range dirty products tanker and the other a dry bulk carrier. Both entered via the Iranian route. Meanwhile, the number of ships sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was at 22, little c

NEW DELHI: Commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to just three ships on Wednesday, down from 12 a day earlier and well below the 10-day average of about 17, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Thursday. The figures exclude any vessels that might have passed through the waterway with their Automatic Identification System transponders turned off to avoid detection. Of the three vessels, an empty Supramax dry bulk ship entered the strait via the Iranian route, while an empty petroleum product tanker entered through a dark route, shipping data from Kpler showed at 0445 GMT. A Panamax tanker exited the waterway using a dark route, the data showed. Vessel traffic dropped this week as war in the Gulf intensified. Saudi Arabian warplanes pounded Yemen and Houthi fighters launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities. The Houthis’ rapid advance in Yemen along the Red Sea coast, attacks on Saudi Arabia and damage to the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline have widened Tehran’s reach in the conflict and raised risks to global oil supplies. In the Red Sea, vessel crossings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait eased to 21 on Wednesday, compared with 24 vessels a day earli

JOHANNESBURG: The South African rand strengthened in early trading on Thursday, supported by stable ​commodity prices after the US Federal Reserve ‌raised interest rates and signalled that further monetary tightening may follow. At 0807 GMT the rand traded at 16.3050 ​against the dollar , about 0.6% stronger than ​its previous close. The US dollar was flat ⁠against a basket of currencies. South Africa’s key ​export commodities gained, with gold rising 1.2% to $4,314.64 per ​ounce and platinum climbing 1.9% to $1,784.42 as investors assessed the Fed’s move. The Fed raised rates by 25 basis points and ​signalled more hikes, as policymakers warned that ​inflation could worsen. “The South African Reserve Bank faces a difficult ‌balance. ⁠Maintaining credible inflation control could support the ZAR’s yield appeal, while mechanically matching overseas increases would risk adding pressure to already subdued domestic activity,” ​said ETM ​Analytics in ⁠a note. South Africa’s monetary policy committee is due to meet next week ​to decide on the country’s interest ​rate ⁠path. On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Top-40 index was up 0.6% in early trade. South Africa’s benchmark ⁠2035 ​gove

• Petroleum dealers lament lack of clarity on payment mechanism, timeline • PM wants facilitation desks to help people trying to buy subsidised fuel • Ogra attributes hike to elevated crude prices despite decline in int’l rates ISLAMABAD: Even as members of the public who have signed up for the PM’s Fuel Relief Scheme queued up at fuel pumps late on Wednesday night, petroleum dealers were still not clear about the mechanism whereby they would be compensated. The concern was voiced by the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) during a presser in Karachi, where its chairman Malik Khuda Bakhsh said that no fuel pump could afford to bear a loss of Rs100 per litre without clarity on how they will be compensated. He claimed that between the petroleum ministry, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and even the finance ministry, no one had been able to answer their questions. “Officials from Ogra and oil marketing companies say that the petroleum ministry will possibly pay the subsidy amount, whereas ministry officials maintain that payments will be made by the finance ministry, while finance ministry officials assure us that the State Bank will release the funds in a day or two

Australian shares inched higher on Wednesday, driven by energy stocks on firm oil prices, while market participants watched developments in the Middle East and awaited the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.3% to 8,699 by 0003 GMT after a 0.9% fall on Tuesday. Crude oil futures were down due to an unexpected build in US crude inventories. Prices hit their highest since May 19 on Tuesday as a slew of events in the Middle East deepened concerns that disruptions to a critical oil-export route could persist for weeks. Investors weighed the risk that higher oil prices could lift inflation further and keep pressure on central banks to raise interest rates. The Fed is widely anticipated to deliver a 25-basis-point rate hike when it announces its policy decision later in the day, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, compared with a 59.4% chance a week earlier. Australian 10-year bond yields eased, but held near 2011-highs. Energy stocks advanced as much as 2% and were on track for their best day since mid-August. Santos and Woodside were up 2.2% and 2.6%, respectively. Healthcare stocks were up 0.8%, with CSL hitting its highest in nearly two weeks. B

HONG KONG: China and Hong Kong stock benchmarks declined on Thursday, with rate-sensitive sectors, including gold, non-ferrous metals and properties, slipping after the US raised interest rates for the first time in three years. China’s blue-chip CSI300 Index and the Shanghai Composite Index dipped 0.4% each by the lunch break. Hong Kong benchmark Hang Seng fell 0.8%. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday and flagged more hikes in the coming months, setting a more hawkish tone than markets expected. In China, CSI gold equities slumped 5%, while non-ferrous metal shares dropped 3%. Hong Kong’s property firms declined 1.9%. The city raised its base interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% on Thursday, tracking the Fed hike. On the other hand, biotech and semiconductor shares outperformed in both markets. Analysts prefer China A-shares over Hong Kong shares for the rest of the year given they have more exposure to AI hardware and related supply chain. Due to the consumer-facing nature of leading internet companies listed in Hong Kong, the city’s stocks are more susceptible to weak domestic consumption, they said. A sustained and meaningful rebound in Hong Kong stocks

TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share gauge was flat on Wednesday as the broader market advanced, with investors weighing mixed economic signals and awaiting key central bank decisions. The benchmark Nikkei 225 edged 0.03% lower to 63,462.01 in early trading, poised for a fourth straight session of declines. The broader Topix gained 0.79% to 4,069.02 after touching an intraday high of 4,072.31. Investors remained cautious ahead of policy decisions by the Federal Reserve later on Wednesday and the Bank of Japan on Friday, with both expected to raise rates. Wall Street extended its selloff overnight, as rising US Treasury yields, debt concerns and soaring crude prices weighed on sentiment. Meanwhile, trade data released on Wednesday showed Japan’s exports rose 19.3% year-on-year, but a sharp 28% jump in imports left a trade deficit of 1.106 trillion yen ($7.5 billion), underscoring the impact of higher energy costs. “US markets ended lower but losses were limited, and investors are likely to stay on the sidelines ahead of the Fed and the Bank of Japan’s policy meeting, making sharp moves unlikely,” Monex Securities’ Yoshitaka Araya said in a note. Oil and coal product shares led gains among To

TOKYO: Japan posted its largest increase in imports in nearly four years in August as higher oil prices lifted energy costs, while exports rose for a 12th month on resilient semiconductor-related demand, government data showed on Wednesday. Total imports by value grew 28% from a year earlier in August, the largest increase since November 2022, Ministry of Finance data showed, as elevated crude oil prices boosted energy imports despite the yen’s spike after a rare joint yen-buying intervention with the United States. That compared with a median market forecast for a 26.3% increase. The trade figures underscore how higher energy prices are swelling import bills and fuelling inflationary pressures, reinforcing expectations the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates at the end of its two-day policy meeting on Friday. Exports by value rose 19.3% year-on-year in August, compared with economists’ median forecast for an 18.2% increase and following a 23.2% rise in July, supported by strong chip-related shipments and higher non-ferrous metal prices. Crude oil import volumes rose 3.6% from a year before, while the total value jumped 58.7%. “Oil import costs could increase further from Septe