From Hong Kong to New York, a deep divide is opening up in office markets around the world, as tenants compete for space in prime buildings while other properties face falling rents, low occupancy and financing pressures. The divergence reflects a global flight to quality, but also a disconnect between improving leasing fundamentals and a recovery in property values, according to analysts at Morgan Stanley and JLL. The divide is being reinforced by limited new supply in prime locations,...

Foreign investors must understand if their activities need a PT PMA or sector-specific approval with licenses, ownership, and regulatory requirements.

Tokyo’s implementation of a rule that requires all property buyers to declare their nationality is raising concerns among investors, according to analysts. Japan’s shift from an ultra-loose monetary policy to gradual normalisation of its interest rates was also likely to force investors to reconsider whether real estate assets were still attractive, they added. “Japan has had a really strong run for the last seven or eight years,” said Neil Brookes, head of Asia-Pacific capital markets at...

MANILA, Philippines — War in the Middle East, escalating trade tensions and budget pressures are putting climate investment under tremendous strain—just when global temperatures and sea levels reach new record highs. This pressure is compounded when climate investment and development investment are framed in policy decisions as opposing priorities. Competing demands do call for hard budget

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino social entrepreneur and agriculturist Cherrie Atilano started her Eisenhower Fellowship in Philadelphia on Oct. 5, bringing the aspirations of Filipino farmers into an international exchange on leadership, innovation and sustainable development. Selected for the 2026 Innovative Entrepreneurs Program, Atilano will spend the coming weeks in the United States exploring how regenerative agriculture,

MANILA, Philippines  — Corporations are pushing for a more collaborative approach to social responsibility, saying today’s biggest social and environmental problems are too broad for companies to tackle alone. The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), a network of operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations in the Philippines, made the call at the recently concluded “2026

MANILA, Philippines — With geopolitical woes drowning Filipino consumers in elevated costs, the Philippines is taking a much closer look at energy sources at home to build a more resilient power network. While coal remains king, renewable energy is proving to have a bigger role. READ: Green groups urge gov’t to fast-track energy transition There’s no

The heads of major multilateral development banks (MDBs) vowed to strengthen their cooperation in addressing various global issues, including conflicts, disasters, and tight fiscal conditions.

Thailand's Board of Investment, Stock Exchange of Thailand, and Securities and Exchange Commission signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the "BOI to IPO" program, which aims to help New Economy enterprises raise capital through stock market listings.

Artificial intelligence-powered glasses can act as tour guides, snap photos hands-free and translate foreign languages. The devices also sell at relatively affordable prices in China. But are they the perfect travel companion? Not yet. AI glasses were slowly catching on with travellers as the technology improved and more devices entered the market, analysts said, but technical hitches were slowing mass adoption of the smartphone-linked gear that could be worn like ordinary spectacles. “They can...

A rising number of travellers from Hong Kong and Macau are flocking to indoor ski centres in Guangdong province, as new venues mushroom across the mainland amid a winter sports boom. Chinese indoor ski resort operator Bonski said 20 to 30 per cent of visitors to its facility in Guangzhou were now coming from Hong Kong and Macau, as the company’s venues continue to attract a growing customer base. “Most visitors to indoor ski venues are local residents, and we have seen steady inflows of...

Motorists may expect a sigh of relief in the coming week amid an expected pump price rollback.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine peso touched a fresh record low on Friday, extending its slide beyond 63 per dollar as signs of persistent US inflation strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could raise interest rates again this month. The local currency weakened to an intraday low of 63.23 per dollar, surpassing Thursday’s record

MANILA, Philippines — Top Philippine conglomerate executives Lance Gokongwei and Chito Salazar have been named this year’s recipients of the prestigious “Management Person of the Year” award conferred by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings Inc., was cited chiefly for his role in transforming the Gokongwei Group

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Finance (DOF) is targeting a reduction in the cost of sending money home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to around 2 percent of the funds sent, with Finance Secretary Frederick Go turning to global payments firms to help make money transfers to the Philippines more affordable. “The average (fee) now,

MANILA, Philippines — The Ayala group’s ACEN Corp. has committed an additional P3 billion to its wholly owned subsidiary Giga Ace 8 Inc. to finance the construction of its Palauig Solar 2 and battery energy storage projects. In a disclosure on Friday, ACEN said it signed a subscription agreement for 300 million Redeemable Preferred Shares “A”

MANILA, Philippines — Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is preparing to pilot a new low-cost prepaid home broadband offering this quarter, as the telco seeks to reach price-sensitive households amid the increasingly saturated fiber market. Dennis Anthony Uy, cofounder and CEO of Converge, said the product, which could be commercially launched as early as the first

MANILA, Philippines — DMCI Homes has partnered with Pag-Ibig Fund to make up to 3,990 condominium units eligible for housing loan financing, subject to the completion of project accreditations. The property developer signed a memorandum of understanding with the state-run housing lender on Friday to broaden financing options for qualified buyers. Anissa Heights, a condominium development

MANILA, Philippines — Manulife Investments Philippines has converted its Global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Feeder Fund into a diversified multi-asset unit investment trust fund (UITF), expanding its investment mandate beyond real estate to include listed infrastructure, natural resources equities and US Treasury inflation-protected securities. In a statement, the asset management arm of Manulife said it launched

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines significantly contributed to global pineapple trade in 2025 as it invested heavily in improving domestic production, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Global pineapple exports grew by 3.7 percent to 3.7 million metric tons (MT) in 2025, largely driven by higher supplies from the

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has opposed selling off the rice cargo from Vietnam that was confiscated, to prevent those responsible for its entry into the Philippines from profiting. “I am not in favor of auctioning this,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a recent radio interview. READ: Senate to conduct

Almost two decades after gaining permission to conduct yuan business for local clients, foreign-funded banks are still refining their strategy in China, where the financial sector is dominated by state-owned lenders. While Citi exited its China retail banking business, other foreign banks have continued to close branches and sub-branches, focusing instead on digitalisation, wealth management and core clients to strengthen their foothold in the market. Deutsche Bank (China) announced the closure...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has pitched potential projects under the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) to Italian companies interested in investing in infrastructure, technology, and other strategic sectors. This is according to the Department of Finance (DOF), which said it presented potential projects where 10 Italian companies could contribute through financing, technical assistance, technology

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has released new rules to make it fairer for drugstores, supermarkets, and pharmaceutical companies when they give discounts to senior citizens.

ASEAN is adapting Japan and Korea’s corporate value-up models to improve governance, disclosure, and investor participation. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam are implementing various value-up programs. The goals are similar: better shareholder returns, governance, and investability. Companies can enhance visibility and access to capital by improving capital allocation, shareholder returns, and […]

Makati is where many Filipino dreams take shape. Fast-paced and bustling with activity, the city offers its residents numerous opportunities to succeed. Beyond its corporate character, Makati is a city rich in history, culture and innovation. With its many unique destinations, this thriving business and commercial hub offers opportunities for those who want to contribute

In a Filipino household, a condominium must do more than provide a place to sleep. It needs to accommodate shared meals, children’s schoolwork, and family members’ routines. As vertical living becomes an option for more households, the challenge is to create spaces that feel comfortable, flexible, and personal. Laya and Haraya Residences by Shang Properties,

While good interior design can make a house feel like home, the community and city beyond its walls remain just as important. Access to jobs, essential services, leisure and opportunities for growth shapes how people live and what they can achieve. In Makati City for example, the combination of thoughtfully designed homes and a dynamic

MANILA, Philippines — Consunji-led Concreat Holdings Philippines (CHP) said its two cement plants recover and reuse about 50 million liters of water annually, reducing their freshwater needs amid risks from prolonged dry spells and El Niño. The DMCI Holdings Inc. subsidiary uses water recycling and recovery systems at APO Cement in Naga, Cebu, and Solid

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will offer discounts on select business class and premium economy seats for the first time, ahead of the peak holiday travel season. PAL’s week-long sale, running from Oct. 19 to 25, will offer discounts of up to 60 percent for business class and premium economy seats on select