PNB eyes early 2027 bond sale to fund expansion

Inquirer.net - Oct 12, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Lucio Tan-led Philippine National Bank (PNB) is considering a bond issuance early next year to support lending expansion, although the amount, currency and tenor have yet to be determined. PNB president and CEO Edwin Bautista said the bank had no immediate funding requirement for the rest of 2026 but could tap the

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China bets on molten salt and CO2 to help meet its power needs

Oct 12, 2026

China bets on molten salt and CO2 to help meet its power needs

China has begun building the world’s first utility-scale power plant combining two emerging technologies: supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) generation and large-scale molten salt energy storage. The Ruitan project, under construction at a coal-fired power station in Yantai in eastern China’s Shandong province, is intended to demonstrate how combining these technologies can reduce energy wastage and improve the stability of the electrical grid. Electricity produced when demand is low is stored...

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Oct 12, 2026

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A safety failure spotted in tests of a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) made by a Huawei Technologies-backed luxury brand has raised doubts about the cars many consumers view as a source of national pride, and prompted regulators to step up policing of quality and reliability. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with three other ministry-level departments, published draft rules on Saturday that would govern testing of new car models. The move came after a video released on...

Beijing police detain Yiren Digital chairman after massive product defaults

Oct 12, 2026

Beijing police detain Yiren Digital chairman after massive product defaults

Police in China have detained a controller of Yiren Digital, a US-listed Chinese digital lender, after two related investment platforms failed to repay mainland investors for over four months. The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said that it had recently launched an official criminal investigation into relevant companies associated with CreditEase over suspected illegal activities and had arrested controllers, including a 53-year-old male with the surname Tang and a 51-year-old female...

Adidas CEO taps outdoor sport, street dance as new China growth drivers in fierce market

Oct 12, 2026

Adidas CEO taps outdoor sport, street dance as new China growth drivers in fierce market

German sportswear giant Adidas is bent on new fashionable outdoor and street dance apparel to sustain its growth in China amid heightened competition against domestic and international rivals, according to its CEO Bjorn Gulden. “We see that there’s a running boom and an outdoor boom [in China],” he told reporters in a media briefing in Shanghai on Sunday. “We see new sports like street dance [becoming] new activities that look to be relevant for the young people in the universities.” He said...

Thailand’s new entry fee and departure tax could raise travel costs for foreign tourists by nearly $80

Oct 12, 2026

Thailand’s new entry fee and departure tax could raise travel costs for foreign tourists by nearly $80

Thailand is introducing two new tourism fees: a 450-baht entry fee starting in the first quarter of 2027, and a 1,000-baht departure tax for all air travelers.

Hong Kong’s workers fear AI-driven retirement disruptions, only 20% feel prepared: survey

Oct 12, 2026

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China’s factories leaping straight into agentic AI and taking it global: Black Lake CEO

Oct 12, 2026

China’s factories leaping straight into agentic AI and taking it global: Black Lake CEO

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Diesel prices down P3.01/liter, gasoline up P1.56 on Oct. 13

Oct 12, 2026

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Remulla asks SC to review doctrine requiring main plunderer, says it shields the guilty

Oct 12, 2026

Remulla asks SC to review doctrine requiring main plunderer, says it shields the guilty

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to review the doctrine requiring the identification of a main plunderer in plunder cases, calling it not justice but a shield for the guilty.

Singapore Pillar Two Registration: Steps Multinational Groups Should Take

Oct 12, 2026

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Red hot inflation seen extending BSP hikes

Oct 12, 2026

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is facing the highest pressure from inflation in Asia, which may prompt the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to extend its rate-hiking cycle even as economic growth has already weakened, analysts said. In a report, Nomura economists pointed to early signs of inflation generalization across Asia, a key indicator for

Foreign investors turned net sellers of PH stocks, bonds in August

Oct 12, 2026

Foreign investors turned net sellers of PH stocks, bonds in August

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign investors turned net sellers of Philippine stocks and government securities in August, snapping three consecutive months of foreign portfolio investment (FPI) net inflows as outflows exceeded inflows by $315 million. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed the FPI net outflow marked a sharp reversal from the $2.3-billion net inflow

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