Beijing, China (AFP) — China’s factory price inflation, a key barometer of the industrial sector, accelerated sharply in August, reflecting strong demand and a reduction in excess capacity which has plagued China’s economy. The producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, rose 6.3 percent year on year in August, much faster than expected, official data showed Saturday. The pace of PPI expansion jumped from 5.5 percent registered in July, according to the […]
Tag: economy
US Fed official sees gradual rate hikes even amid low inflation
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) – The US central bank can continue to raise interest rates gradually, despite persistent low inflation that could suggest a fundamental change in the economy, a top Federal Reserve official said Thursday. New York Fed President William Dudley said while he has been surprised that inflation has remained stubbornly below the central bank’s two percent target even as the economy has grown steadily, that has not changed his basic […]
Tokyo stocks down at break on North Korea jitters
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks slipped Wednesday morning on lingering worries over North Korea, with the yen strengthening against its major peers due partly to its status as a safe haven currency. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.31 percent, or 59.94 points, to 19,325.87 by the break — a four-month low — while the broader Topix index was down 0.20 percent, or 3.20 points, at 1,587.51. “No one knows if the issues around […]
Asian traders cautious after sell-off as N. Korea tensions linger
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets struggled on Tuesday while the safe-haven yen and gold held gains as traders fret over North Korea’s nuclear test at the weekend, which prompted warnings of US military action. The US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told an emergency Security Council meeting that Pyongyang was “begging for war” and called for the “strongest possible measures” against Kim Jong-Un’s regime. Also, US President Donald Trump and his […]
Tokyo stocks open higher after falls on geopolitical risks
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday in position-adjustment after investors sold heavily Friday in the wake of Barcelona’s deadly attack and amid concerns over United States President Donald Trump’s economic agenda. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.16 percent, or 30.37 points, to 19,500.78 in the first few minutes of trade while the Topix index of all first-section issues was up 0.19 percent, or 2.98 points, at 1,600.34. Global stock markets […]
PHL is one of the best-performing economies in Asia; overtakes Vietnam, Indonesia — NEDA
Statement of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief and Socio Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia: “With our country growing at 6.5 percent in the second quarter of 2017, I am pleased to inform you that we remain as one of the best-performing economies in Asia. We are well on track to meeting our full-year target growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent. We have overtaken Vietnam’s 6.2 percent growth and Indonesia’s 5.0 percent […]
Calm returns to Asia markets as US data boosts dollar
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Calm returned to Asian markets Wednesday, with equities stabilizing after a two-day rally, as the dollar strengthened on encouraging United States economic data. Volatility eased as traders focused on the world economy and corporate earning figures after a week dominated by the dramatic increase in tensions over North Korea triggered a global sell-off before prices bounced back Monday. The greenback rose after official figures showed US consumers splurged in July, […]
Tokyo shares fall by break as N. Korea worries linger
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks dropped Monday morning as lingering worries about the war of words between the United States and North Korea offset better-than-expected Japanese economic growth. The market headed south as investors returned from a three-day holiday weekend in Japan, after geopolitical tensions dented overseas markets on Friday. Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo tried to lower the temperature at the weekend, offering assurances there was “nothing imminent” in the escalating stand-off […]
Qatar visa move aims to decrease diplomatic row’s impact on economy: researcher
DOHA, Qatar (Reuters) — Qatar’s recent move to grant visa-free entry for nationals of 80 countries is aimed at decreasing the impact of its diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia and other regional nations, said a researcher on Thursday. Brookings Doha Center researcher Adel Abdel Ghafar said the sanctions on Qatar following the rift have brought many negative impacts on the country’s economy. “First of all, in the financial system, in terms of the trading between […]
Wall Street ends higher as Dow posts 8th straight record
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) 00 Wall Street ended the week on an emphatic high note, as the blue-chip Dow rose to its eighth consecutive record finish Friday. Investors were buoyed by rosy job creation numbers in July, as the economy added 209,000 net new positions, as well as a string of good earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3 percent to close at 22,092.81, and the broader S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq […]
Asian traders take stock after fresh Wall Street record
HONGKONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets paused for breath Thursday after Wall Street smashed through 22,000 for the first time, with regional traders focused on fresh clues on the health of the United States economy. Strong Apple earnings propelled the Dow above the barrier to mark its sixth straight record close — but the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed marginally lower. Tokyo ended a two-day rally to sit 0.4 percent lower by the break, with several tech […]
SWS: More Filipinos believe martial law in Mindanao has no effect on economy
(Eagle News) — Almost half of respondents in a nationwide survey believe the declaration of martial law across Mindanao has no effect on the country’s economy. Results of the second quarter 2017 Social Weather Stations survey showed that of the 1200 interviewed face-to-face from June 23 to 26, 42 percent believe the economy will be the same despite military rule in Mindanao. Thirty-three percent believe the economy will get worse, while the rest, or 24 […]





