By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES slipped seven spots in an annual global competitiveness report, the steepest decline in Asia after its economic performance slumped amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Switzerland-based business school International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) 2021 World Competitiveness Report ranked the Philippines 52nd out of 64 countries, down […]Read More

By Beatrice M. Laforga, Reporter THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) said it prefers the adoption of an intensity-based carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) over an outright carbon tax, as the Philippines seeks to adopt a policy response to climate change. DoF Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Paola Sherina A. Alvarez told BusinessWorld that based on a […]Read More

THE LUZON GRID will likely experience more red alerts until July, raising the possibility of more “brownouts” as several power plants undergo maintenance work, according to the Energy department. “In the coming weeks up until Week 30 (end of July), we will see that the preventive maintenance schedules (of power plants) will happen at the […]Read More

THE FEDERAL RESERVE’S new outlook for interest rates ricocheted through Asian markets as the dollar and Treasury yields surged, easing pressure on some of the region’s biggest central banks and complicating the outlook for others. Expectations for higher US rates tend to suck capital away from Asia, sending local currencies lower and borrowing costs higher. […]Read More

Optimism comes despite annual losses hitting P73B By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter PAL Holdings, Inc., the listed operator of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, expects positive monthly operating cash flows this year after its net loss after tax widened to P73.08 billion in 2020 from P9.70 billion previously due to the “extraordinary impact” of the […]Read More

IMPORTED car sales almost quadrupled in May compared with the level in the same month last year as lockdown restrictions loosen, latest industry data show. In a report on Thursday, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) said vehicle sales of its 21 members carrying 26 global brands in May surged 293% to […]Read More

BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific, operated by Cebu Air, Inc., is sticking to its forecast of returning to pre-pandemic levels next year, saying it is “cautiously optimistic” given the current pace of vaccine rollout in the country. “To be honest, initially, when it started rolling out and we were monitoring the inoculation rate, we were pleasantly […]Read More

1 of 2 McCoy De Leon and Herbert Bautista THIRTY years after the release of the comedy-fantasy film Puto, its main character is returning, this time on television. The 1987 comedy-fantasy film, Puto becomes a television series on TV5 with magical adventures, and new and a few original cast members. The film followed the shy […]Read More

By Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte EUSEBIO H. Tanco declined his nomination as director of the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) following issues against his brokerage, Venture Securities, Inc. (VSI) “Recent events which, unfortunately and unjustifiably, have besmirched the reputation of Venture Securities and its officers and employees compel me, out of delicadeza, to decline the […]Read More

MILEY CYRUS — FACEBOOK.COM/MILEYCYRUS BRUSSELS —  US pop star Miley Cyrus has won the right to use her name as a trademark on a wide range of products in the European Union, after Europe’s top court on Wednesday annulled a decision by the EU patent office to limit the scope of her brand. The case […]Read More