.jpg)
Overseas news
Major US stock indices ended higher on Monday. This was partially due to a rebound in the stocks of technology and AI companies.
Shares of large tech companies have been a source of much growth for the US stock market. Many investors take cues from the performance of these companies and the movement of their stocks.
Oil prices also rose on Monday amid news of the US intercepting a Venezuelan oil tanker. This added to the growing geopolitical tensions between the 2 countries.
Venezuela has the world’s largest known oil reserves though the country faces US sanctions that limit the amount it produces and sells.
Relatedly, the ongoing US-Venezuela tensions pushed gold and silver prices to all-time highs as demand for “safe haven” assets grew.
Local developments
Finance Secretary Frederick Go expressed confidence that the country’s economic growth will recover in Q1 2026 due to a foreseen rebound.
Economic growth is measured by tracking changes in the gross domestic product (GDP), which slowed down in the 3rd quarter of 2025 as corruption issues weighed on government spending.
Additionally, the Philippines’ external debt service bill fell by 21.6% year-on-year as of the end of September, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Debt servicing refers to the money needed for paying the principal and interest on a loan for a certain period. When interest rates aren’t fixed for the entire term, the debt servicing can change significantly.
While the US-Venezuela developments may cause worry, big market changes might not happen right away given the shortened trading week. Staying updated and being cautious with your investing decisions might be a good move for now.
