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Overseas news
According to European Central Bank (ECB) Vice President Luis de Guindos, the ECB’s current interest rates are appropriate unless economic conditions change drastically.
Meanwhile, the summary of opinions of the Bank of Japan’s October board meeting shows 8 of 13 policy opinions on monetary policy supported or outlined conditions for a near-term interest rate hike.
Finding a policy rate that helps manage inflation but doesn’t cause trouble for the economy later on is a challenging task faced by central banks around the world.
Local developments
Electricity rates for Meralco customers are expected to rise in November, mainly due to higher pass-through charges. The P0.1520 per kWh increase will bring the total to P13.4702 per kWh.
Aside from households, more-expensive electricity can also impact companies that need to power their factories. This could raise manufacturing costs, although it may not lead to higher prices in the short term.
At the same time, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that the Philippine economy is expected to accelerate in the fourth quarter of 2025. The main drivers would be private holiday spending, government programs, rising exports, and increased capital outlays.
Also, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the Philippines fell by 40.5% year-on-year in August 2025 to finish at $494 million.
FDI is an important source of external financing for developing countries. It refers to a substantial stake in, or complete ownership of, a company or project by a foreign organization or government.
Aside from the money brought in, FDI can also transfer technology, improved management practices, and advanced processes.
The latest updates aren’t pointing at a big shift towards any particular direction soon. You may want to hold off on big changes to your investments for the meantime.
