Category: Business

Business

Rice Prices Jump 22% in Early August—But the September Harvest Could Bring an Even Bigger Shock

MANILA, Philippines — The price of the Philippines’ staple food has started climbing again, with the average retail price of regular-milled rice reaching P49.61 per kilogram in the first five days of August, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The increase is striking when compared with the same period last year. The PSA reported that regular-milled rice averaged P40.61 per kilo in August 2025, meaning the latest price was about 22.2% higher year-on-yea

August 20, 2026

Business

WALL STREET JUST GOT A LIFELINE — BUT THE BOND MARKET WARNING BEHIND THE RALLY COULD BE MUCH BIGGER

NEW YORK — Wall Street regained its footing Wednesday after the U.S. Treasury moved to ease pressure in the bond market, giving investors temporary relief from a surge in long-term borrowing costs that has increasingly threatened stocks, businesses and the broader economy. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite all finished higher, snapping a three-session losing streak. The S&P 500 gained about 0.2%, while the Dow and Nasdaq also advanced roughly 0.2%. But the modest s

August 20, 2026

Business

JAPAN’S EXPORTS EXPLODE 23% TO A RECORD ¥11.5 TRILLION — BUT THE NUMBER THAT CAME NEXT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING

Japan has delivered a stunning trade performance that could give its export-dependent economy a much-needed boost — but the record comes with a warning that investors and policymakers cannot afford to ignore. Japanese exports surged 23.2% year-on-year in July 2026, reaching a record ¥11.5 trillion (about US$72.6 billion), according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Finance reported by Reuters and Channel NewsAsia. The increase was significantly stronger than economists’ median forecast of 19.9%

August 20, 2026

Business

TRUMP IS BRINGING CRYPTO’S BIGGEST PLAYERS TO THE WHITE HOUSE—WHAT COMES NEXT COULD RESHAPE U.S. DIGITAL ASSETS

WASHINGTON — August 19, 2026 — The Trump administration is moving to reshape the U.S. cryptocurrency landscape, with President Donald Trump set to host major crypto executives at the White House as federal regulators push forward with a new framework for digital assets. The meeting comes at a critical moment for the industry. Just one day earlier, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed long-awaited rules that could make it easier for certain cryptocurrency companies to issue

August 19, 2026

Business

Nebius Unleashes $4.5 Billion AI Funding Bet—But the Real Number Could Be Even Bigger

Amsterdam-based AI cloud company Nebius Group is making another massive push into the artificial intelligence infrastructure race, announcing plans to raise $4.5 billion through a private offering of convertible senior notes as it races to expand data centers, computing capacity and its full-stack AI cloud platform. The proposed financing, announced Wednesday, August 19, 2026, comes as demand for AI computing continues to surge and companies scramble to secure scarce GPU and data-center capacit

August 19, 2026

Business

Hyundai Cars Are Getting More Expensive in September — But the Bigger Question Is How Much You’ll Pay

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI — Hyundai cars are set to become more expensive in India once again, with Hyundai Motor India announcing a price increase of up to 1% across its vehicle portfolio from September 2026. The automaker said the exact increase will vary depending on the model and variant, meaning the maximum 1% increase will not necessarily apply uniformly across every Hyundai vehicle. The latest move comes as automakers continue to face pressure from higher input and commodity costs, as well as co

August 19, 2026

Business

PDIC Opens 68 Properties Across Luzon for E-Bidding—Palawan Buyers Could Be Watching This Closely

MANILA, Philippines — Property hunters, investors and aspiring landowners may soon have another opportunity to acquire real estate through a government-backed online auction as the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) prepares to put 68 properties across 15 Luzon provinces and cities up for electronic public bidding—including assets in Palawan. The auction is scheduled for September 16 and 17, 2026, with interested buyers required to submit their bids through the official PDIC Assets

August 19, 2026

Business

Former Meta Engineer Takes the Stand Again — And What He Says About Instagram’s Impact on Teens Could Change Everything

OAKLAND, California — A former Meta engineering director who has repeatedly warned that the company knew about serious problems affecting young users returned to the witness stand Wednesday, becoming a pivotal figure in a landmark federal trial that could reshape how Instagram and Facebook operate. Arturo Bejar, who worked at Meta from 2009 to 2015 and later returned as an independent contractor from 2019 to 2021, is the first witness in the high-stakes Oakland trial. He previously worked on re

August 19, 2026

Business

Alphabet’s $3.9 Billion Australian Bond Deal Signals the Next Phase of the AI Spending Race

Alphabet has tapped Australia’s bond market for the first time, raising A$5.5 billion (about US$3.9 billion) as the Google parent accelerates funding for its massive artificial intelligence build-out. Alphabet has raised A$5.5 billion, equivalent to roughly US$3.89 billion, through its inaugural Australian-dollar bond sale, according to a term sheet reviewed by Reuters and reported by Channel NewsAsia. The landmark transaction comes as Alphabet and other technology giants ramp up borrowing to

August 19, 2026

Business

Singapore COE Premiums Surge, Open Category Hits S$135,000 — Now All Eyes Turn to the Next Bidding Round

SINGAPORE — Car buyers are facing another expensive round of Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding after premiums closed mostly higher on Wednesday (Aug. 19), with Category A rebounding sharply and the Open Category reaching S$135,000. The latest results delivered a fresh warning for motorists hoping that COE prices would finally cool. Category A, covering smaller cars and qualifying electric vehicles, climbed S$4,611 to S$128,501, up from S$123,890 in the previous exercise. The increase ma

August 19, 2026