Economy

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing to set up a sovereign wealth fund to develop the economy and infrastructure, but critics complain of financial risks. (File photon by AFP/Jiji) 
Politics

Marcos' sovereign fund advances with Philippine congress nod

Trimmed down Maharlika Investment Fund moves to Senate for further scrutiny

16 December 2022
The Philippine central bank in Manila: Monetary authorities in the country are raising interest rates as they battle surging inflation and a sagging currency. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippines hikes rates by half point to tame 'rampant' inflation

Central bank chief signals further tightening will be at moderate pace

15 December 2022
Philippine Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno says plans for the central bank to contribute to a proposed sovereign wealth fund are not an assault on the bank's independence.
Economy

Marcos team urges on Philippine wealth fund bill amid criticism

Latest version does not require employee pension fund contributions

9 December 2022
Relatives of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week filed a bill in Congress seeking to create a sovereign wealth fund. (File photo by AP) 
Economy

Philippine businesses attack Marcos sovereign wealth fund plan

Officials defend Maharlika Investments Fund, saying it won't be like 1MDB

5 December 2022
Vietnamese technical interns work at a construction site in Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Japan immigration

Japan to lose pay appeal for Vietnamese, Indonesian workers by 2032: study

Stagnant Japanese wages risk making Southeast Asians look elsewhere for jobs

5 December 2022
Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., on the left, seen here with his cousin and House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier this year.
Economy

Marcos' cousin, son push $4.9bn Philippine sovereign wealth fund

Maharlika Investments Fund eyes Singapore and Indonesia as models

29 November 2022
The central banks of Indonesia and the Philippines both raised rates on Thursday. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Economy

Indonesia, Philippines hike key rates in bid to tame inflation

Prices rising faster than central bank targets in both Southeast Asian nations

17 November 2022
Thai Air Asia's reservations for flights to Japan are on the rise ahead of the holiday season.
Travel & Leisure

Thailand, Singapore tourists jump in line as Japan opens borders

Southeast Asia travel industry eyes recovery with weak yen fueling strong demand

26 October 2022
Japan's attractiveness as a place to work continues to fade as the yen weakens and wages rise in other Asian countries.
Datawatch

Foreign workers shun Japan as yen's value plunges

Average wage in dollar terms falls 40% over 10 years

16 October 2022
People shop for food in a market in Hanoi: Vietnam's economy is to grow faster than its Asia-Pacific peers this year, expanding by 7.2%, the World Bank said in its latest forecast.
Economy

Vietnam emerges as Asia's growth leader as China slows

Food, fuel subsidies risk long-term distortion, warns World Bank

27 September 2022
The central banks of Indonesia and the Philippines have both been tightening to rein in inflation. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Economy

Philippines, Indonesia lift interest rates again to curb inflation

Taiwan and others also hike as Asian central banks follow U.S. tightening

22 September 2022
Vegetable vendors at a roadside market in Jakarta on Sept. 12. Indonesia is one emerging Asian economy that is forecast to grow faster than expected this year.
Economy

Emerging Asia growing faster than China for 1st time in 30 years

Indonesia, Philippines are bright spots but India, Pakistan faltering, says ADB

21 September 2022
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his inauguration ceremony in Manila on June 30: Ensuring the country's food security is proving to be a herculean task.
Opinion

Marcos should not leave Philippine food policy up to politics

Extra role as agriculture secretary quickly becomes headache for president

7 September 2022
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, chats with his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, in Bogor on Sept. 5. (Screenshot from Indonesian Presidential Palace's YouTube channel)
International relations

Philippines' Marcos meets Indonesia's Jokowi in 1st state visit

Southeast Asian leaders discuss regional security and economic cooperation

5 September 2022
Mactan Cebu International Airport on the central island of Cebu is one of the Philippines' busiest airports. (Photo courtesy of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.)
Transportation

Marcos adviser strikes deal to take over Philippines' Cebu airport

Contractor Megawide and Indian partner GMR to sell asset to Aboitiz Group

3 September 2022
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been critical of sugar imports that hurt local farmers, but recently conceded that shortages are pushing him to ship in more sugar from overseas.
Economy

Philippine sugar 'crisis' tests Marcos' pro-farms push

Coca-Cola cuts production, bakers hike prices amid shortage

26 August 2022
The hike comes as the Indonesian economy has yet to fully recover from the effects of COVID-19. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Indonesia raises policy rate to 3.75% as inflation speeds up

Central bank's first hike since 2018 follows tightening by U.S., ASEAN neighbors

23 August 2022
A logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is seen at their headquarters in Manila. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Philippine central bank raises key rate by 50 basis points

Latest increase comes as inflation soars, threatening growth

18 August 2022
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Quezon City on Aug. 8: His popularity and political capital can be leveraged.
Opinion

Marcos should revive Chinese-backed rail projects on new terms

New Philippine administration can create better system to develop infrastructure

11 August 2022
People at a sidewalk vendor in Manila on Aug. 5.
Economy

Philippines girds for bigger inflation hit as economy slows in Q2

Expansion eased to 7.4% as higher prices squeezed consumption

9 August 2022
Fitch Ratings said in a report last month that Singapore banks are poised to benefit from the rise in global interest rates as economic recovery continues across the lenders' key markets.
Finance

DBS, other ASEAN banks ride U.S. rate hikes to stronger earnings

Southeast Asia's largest banks expect higher returns from lending

5 August 2022
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his first State of the Nation Address in Manila on Monday. 
Politics

Marcos sets out big economic goal of slashing Philippine poverty

New president avoids China feud, human rights, corruption in policy speech

25 July 2022
The Philippines new president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., will give his first State of the Nation address on July 25 and is expected to lay out his plans to speed the country's recovery from the pandemic. 
24 July 2022
Students sit inside dividers as they attend classes at Longos Elementary School in Alaminos, Pangasinan province, Philippines, on Nov. 15, 2021.
Education

Philippine teachers worry about full return to classroom lessons

ADB and unions seek larger education budget for COVID-19 recovery

22 July 2022
Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who took office June 30, did not lay out specific economic policies during his campaign.
Economy

Just weeks in, Marcos faces doubts over mixed economic agenda

Philippine businesses wary over veto for special zone and lack of policy details

21 July 2022