Business

Tourism: A tenth of the world economy

PARIS, France (AFP) — Terrorism and epidemics now and again make a dent in tourism numbers, but the sector usually quickly rebounds and it now employs hundreds of millions and accounts for a tenth of global output. Here are five key points about the sector, which grew 4.4 percent last year to nearly 1.2 billion people taking a trip outside of their country: – Europe (including Russia) remains the most visited region with 609 million […]

US crude rebounds in Asia but supply glut worries weigh

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Oil prices rebounded on bargain-buying in Asia Wednesday after the previous day’s plunge but analysts warned any gains would be limited as the global glut that has hammered markets showed no sign of letting up. Investors are also nervously awaiting the release later in the day of a report on US stockpiles that is forecast to show a further increase in inventories. At around 0300 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) […]

WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement to enhance ease of doing business in Phl

MANILA, Feb. 10 (PIA) — Philippine products and services are bound to reach an even wider international market once the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) is ratified. “The TFA enables streamlined, transparent, and efficient customs procedures which would result to a more conducive trading environment for business, and reduce prices for consumers and producers,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. “The procedures and provisions in the TFA establishes a more efficient […]

Yen soars as equity market turmoil hammers sentiment

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — The yen on Tuesday jumped to its highest level against the dollar since late 2014 as a bloodbath on equity markets stoked investor demand for safe assets. In Tokyo, the greenback dropped below 115 yen as Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index dived almost five percent following a rout in US and European bourses fueled by worries about the global economy. World markets have suffered a tumultuous start to 2016, hit by a […]

EU-GSP+ Monitoring Report: PH, making good progress on implementation of Conventions

BRUSSELS – The European Commission adopted its first GSP Monitoring report to the European Parliament and the Council, including an assessment of Philippines’ implementation of 27 International Conventions, on human rights, labour rights, environment and governance. Preferential imports to the EU amount to over €50 billion in 2015 and the Philippines is increasing its share following its successful application and subsequent granting of “GSP+” preferential treatment on 24 December 2014. In 2014, the Philippines exported […]

Lower food, non-food prices pull down inflation in January 2016

MANILA, Feb. 7 — Slower price adjustments in both food and non-food items pulled down inflation to 1.3 percent in January 2016 from 1.5 percent in the previous month, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Inflation for the food subgroup slowed down as prices of fish, fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs became stable. “Good weather conditions at the onset of 2016 allowed prices of these food items to stabilize. This was an […]

Inflation rate drops to 1.3%

MANILA, Philippines – According to the National Economic and Development Authority, the country’s inflation rate dropped to 1.3% this January due to the low food prices as well as the drop of oil prices in the world market. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Dexter Magno/Aniway Acosta and Uploaded by Vince Alvin Villarin)

Mark Zuckerberg, fourth richest man in the world

According to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index, 31-year old Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer of social networking giant Facebook, is the fourth richest man in the world, with a net worth of $50 billion. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Dexter Magno, Uploaded by MRFaith Bonalos)

Asia stocks subdued before US jobs data

Asian equities were subdued on Friday (February 5) and the dollar wobbled ahead of the closely watched U.S. jobs report, which could provide clues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook. The markets will look to the U.S. jobs data for direction, with the employment report expected to how employers adding 190,000 jobs in January, the median estimate of 108 economists polled by Reuters. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei stock average was down 1 percent despite an […]

Yahoo to cut 15 percent of workforce

  (Reuters) — Yahoo Inc.,  said on Tuesday (February 02) it was exploring strategic alternatives in addition to the continued pursuit of the reverse spin-off of its Internet business. The company also said it would cut about 15 percent of its workforce and close offices in five locations. Shares of Yahoo, which also reported fourth-quarter results, fell 1.4 percent in after-hours trading on Tuesday. The company said it would simplify its product portfolio and that […]

PHL jumps six notches in 2016 US economic freedom report

MANILA, Feb. 2 (PNA) — The Philippines has jumped six notches in a Washington-based think-tank’s annual economic freedom report, improving its ranking from 76th to 70th place this year, an embassy report said Tuesday. Heritage Foundation reaffirmed economic freedom in the Philippines and recognized notable success in monetary freedom and management of public finance. The 2016 Index of Economic Freedom continued to grade the economies of 186 countries based on 10 independent factors called Economic […]

PHL’s economic freedom improves anew in ’16

MANILA, Feb. 2 (PNA) — The Philippine government on Tuesday hailed another improvement on the country’s ranking on the 2016 Index of Economic Freedom after reaching the 70th place against 178 countries, up from 76th last year. US-based think tank Heritage Foundation said economic freedom in the country is now “moderately free” after getting a score of 63.1 percent out of 100 points. Improvement of the country’s ranking is among the best in the past […]