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019861701bc05220f4a9065be1f7055b4748204855f5712550792b383b602ea7
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2026-01-07T02:23:14+00:00
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Trump says Venezuela to give up to 50 million barrels of oil to U.S.
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Trump's announcement came days after U.S. forces attacked Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro, to be prosecuted on drug-trafficking charges.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/trump-venezuela-oil.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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a0c504f9e512dfd1f9c4c0c403aa8efad6e2dd4ab308b1791cfebe567d1454ed
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2026-01-07T07:31:11+00:00
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Big Pharma race to snap up biotech assets as $170 billion patent cliff looms
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Companies are facing a situation where they need to fill their pipelines, but also navigate a competitive environment for the best assets.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/big-pharma-race-to-snap-up-biotech-assets-as-170-billion-patent-cliff-looms.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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307c9d4448e0959b7d94f043f2246caa164c8734d3ba7707ccca2dd2001027d3
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2026-01-07T00:48:32+00:00
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Berkshire Hathaway lifts new CEO Greg Abel’s salary to $25 million
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Abel took the helm of Berkshire Hathaway on Jan. 1, succeeding legendary investor Warren Buffett.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/berkshire-hathaway-greg-abel-berkshire-hathaway-ceo-warren-buffet-pay-raise-25-million.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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75ccdd7beb1414b8080ffb73cf82b194607ef64ff77292f0c4c7c6c991f04f6d
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2026-01-07T06:51:25+00:00
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Seven U.S. troops injured in Venezuela raid that captured Maduro, Pentagon says
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Seven U.S. service members were injured during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, a Pentagon official said on Wednesday.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/us-venezuela-military-operation-maduro-injuries-casualties.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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8dda831ecb78b866f166a142790e31e851c7f293c37a2987e684206bfc7e69ea
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2026-01-07T03:08:38+00:00
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Trump administration freezes $10B in child, family aid to 5 states over fraud concerns
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The move comes a day after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he would not seek reelection amid political fallout over a massive fraud probe in his state.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/trump-freezes-child-aid-hhs-fraud.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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c6eeb3144e75b17c51647930eaabd39c6832454cf21ab16690d1f45195f63aca
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2026-01-06T23:51:09+00:00
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She immigrated to the U.S. and was sleeping in her car as a single mother–now, her candy company brings in over $9 million a year
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Gia Huynh, 34, immigrated from Vietnam to the United States in 2016 where she faced homelessness. Today, her candy company brings in $9 million a year.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/she-started-a-9-million-a-year-candy-company-called-silky-gem.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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4b803fa4750d61f8dc990c76898b0594d6f1940dc4f394dde3b2a4bacc27e3f6
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2026-01-06T14:15:01+00:00
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Who could see bigger tax refunds in 2026 from Trump's cuts
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Many Americans could see bigger tax refunds in 2026 based on cuts enacted via President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill." Here's what to expect.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/bigger-tax-refunds-2026.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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c27d9f5de889d360f4d93d6efffb4bd9721a218cbda183b6e561143428bd4e7c
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2026-01-06T22:24:38+00:00
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Prediction markets show rising odds Trump seizes Panama Canal, moves on Greenland
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Prediction market traders raised their bets that more international shake-ups may be coming.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/prediction-markets-trump-panama-greenland-iran.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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c87bfd5281598e273da2c001058b30f00ab3eff4251d9edc9af3d3baa7c87b23
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2026-01-06T23:53:59+00:00
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How Russia is benefiting from Trump's Venezuelan oil plan
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Russia is reflagging sanctioned vessels involved in the Venezuelan oil trade, quickly growing its dark fleet.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/oil-russia-venezuela.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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45d490bfe090a575224e3fe54e3a1329042d11c1b4a5f58d0eb30b8686a9dcb2
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2026-01-06T14:22:33+00:00
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ACA subsidy cliff may mean 'astronomical tax bills' for many, CFP says
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Enhanced premium subsidies for health insurance bought on the ACA marketplace have expired and the so-called subsidy cliff has returned.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/aca-subsidy-cliff-tax-bills.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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72bd3333c53977b3dd19c4ed09d5b14354c27938cc57ab1c597c0ccae193f32f
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2026-01-06T19:29:25+00:00
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Venezuela bonds are the hottest trade on Wall Street this week. But there are big risks from here
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Investors are betting that a political transition along with a clearer path to asset recovery could unlock value that has been frozen for nearly a decade.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/venezuela-bonds-are-the-hottest-trade-on-wall-street-this-week-but-risks-remain.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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37b4d0c4d56d43626d9875c2bbdbb1a768fd3c3d20503fb5c9044e1040682a90
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2026-01-06T20:45:24+00:00
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Resolution to block Trump from invading Greenland introduced by Sen. Gallego
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Concerns about U.S. action against Greenland have grown after the U.S. attack on Venezuela, which led to the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/trump-greenland-resolution-gallego-invading.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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585a7c77c5a2b2bfb056d5152204d189f8e876717ccc9780651db51d16ebd8fc
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2026-01-06T16:00:01+00:00
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Uniqlo and Coach are opening cafes — joining longtime coffee players Ralph Lauren and Capital One. Here's why it's become a retail trend
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Retailers like Uniqlo and Coach are opening cafes around the world to create an experiential offering that draws in more shoppers and increases brand exposure.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/retail-cafes-uniqlo-coach-ralph-lauren-capital-one.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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20f22ec09b5e56fd02e1c85a4c3f6b402b54511399e7212268db55f1321159bf
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2026-01-07T09:40:11+00:00
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European defense stocks rise as Denmark moves to rearm Greenland
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European stocks were in mixed territory Wednesday as regional market jitters grow over U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to annex Greenland.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/european-markets-stoxx-600-ftse-dax-cac-greenland-in-focus.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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91cc38bd8dd12d7c8a59fcc87a6fef1f14702eb68c73bc10012c0846e2d06565
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2026-01-06T19:54:41+00:00
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Our Goldman Sachs stake may soon require action, and that's a good problem
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We regularly right-size positions — even "own, don't trade" Apple — with our investment theses intact.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/our-goldman-sachs-stake-may-soon-require-action-and-thats-a-good-problem-.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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82f03ef03cc7847fecd676d3666f8716bd3986887202354ff1d7e51adcbf2d18
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2026-01-06T18:33:52+00:00
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Hilton Hotels removing Minneapolis franchise location after it again denied DHS booking
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Minneapolis, which has a large Somali community, has become a focus of criticism by the Trump administration, which has surged ICE agents there.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/hilton-hotels-dhs-minneapolis-immigration-ban.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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1f84dd2bb07c2c7db49815119b4622bcb0ce1ca66ac1ce7141105013bf266ee1
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2026-01-07T02:34:53+00:00
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India’s state-owned refiners keep buying Russian oil even as New Delhi seeks U.S. tariff relief
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India’s efforts to secure U.S. tariff relief are being complicated by continued Russian crude purchases by state-owned refiners, offsetting a pullback by private buyers.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/india-state-refiners-russian-oil-us-tariffs-ioc-bpcl-psu-mukesh-ambani-reliance-trump.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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3740e85cd48a31aea317438ab5ac55d64e902692379b6be4576efb70ba125d13
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2026-01-07T08:17:10+00:00
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Asian defense stocks pull back amid mixed regional trading, geopolitical uncertainty
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Investors continued to assess geopolitical risks after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and President Donald Trump's reiteration to acquire Greenland.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/asia-pacific-markets-nikkei-225-kospi-csi-300-hang-seng-index-australia.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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23bba75e0baa6d3942631b91d8aed0dd78bea27f0a49521d8a9fede5e78abbb6
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2026-01-06T20:40:15+00:00
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Elon Musk's xAI raises $20 billion from investors including Nvidia, Cisco, Fidelity
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Elon Musk's AI said it raised $20 billion in new funding after CNBC reported in November that a financing round would value the company at about $230 billion.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/elon-musk-xai-raises-20-billion-from-nvidia-cisco-investors.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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61f203956d1048d8531f67881930f8312a765225e18917ed061ab2a5c554eb05
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2026-01-06T23:58:32+00:00
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Cramer warns the January rally is driven by emotion and not all stocks will hold up
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CNBC's Jim Cramer says early January trading is being driven by emotion, momentum chasing and turnaround bets and urges investors not to get greedy.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/jim-cramer-january-rally-emotional-momentum-stocks-2026.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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f5b72e38146f19e5120f3e29b4f3ff5db78cac252fae0858ca49e2d42d93bedd
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2026-01-06T19:20:43+00:00
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Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa dies at 65
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LaMalfa's death is a critical shift in the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives, tightening Republicans' razor-thin majority.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/doug-lamalfa-dies-congress-california.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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90782a9b0f1b3e0f615bc1bb91b64e1ea2cb2d9ea089952a8cb02ab112ef2ec5
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2026-01-06T21:24:38+00:00
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Huang says Nvidia seeing ‘very high’ Chinese customer demand for H200 AI chips
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"It appears that we're going to be going back to China," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Tuesday at the CES conference in Las Vegas.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/huang-nvidia-seeing-very-high-demand-for-h200-ai-chips-from-china.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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6a9703ee3048eb709cdda712803b69e813bd9a96a8fdf4a3a5982f2253a4bff4
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2026-01-06T22:16:57+00:00
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Amazon's AI shopping tool sparks backlash from online retailers that didn't want websites scraped
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Some businesses have objected to their products being sold on Amazon through the "Shop Direct" feature without their permission.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/amazons-ai-shopping-tool-sparks-backlash-from-some-online-retailers.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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ac717f0bbf0802c25d655fbdda1d8dcac9756b7782f8003e7defd970b8eaefee
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2026-01-06T22:18:49+00:00
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Venezuela could be sitting on a big Bitcoin stash, experts say. Here's what could happen next
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Although it's hard to say how much bitcoin could be held by Venezuela, it's likely the regime has amassed considerable holdings of the token, experts said.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/venezuela-could-be-sitting-on-a-big-bitcoin-stash-experts-say-heres-what-could-happen-next-.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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eef30f619bd8561080144183ee17312583b536212cf88ec29e6f4f75b6010873
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2026-01-06T18:35:27+00:00
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AMD's Lisa Su says AI isn't replacing people, but is changing who gets hired
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AMD CEO Lisa Su said AI has not slowed the pace of hiring at the company.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/amd-lisa-su-ai-jobs-hiring.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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ed4eef0e511c5c7343a2f8b241f59402bf51e360cb9cdfb6ecb8bee862f8cbaf
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2026-01-06T22:50:48+00:00
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Meta hires Microsoft exec, former Trump deputy as chief legal officer
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Meta said Tuesday that it hired former Microsoft legal executive Curtis Joseph Mahoney to become its chief legal officer.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/meta-hires-microsoft-exec-former-trump-deputy-as-chief-legal-officer.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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5bf522506ea049d7a255a739d399ea0c163cfbff1dbd1591319f60e5023bfffd
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2026-01-06T21:35:05+00:00
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This climate startup is taking recycling to the next level, with shower water beer
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Epic Cleantec makes the Shower Hour IPA and Laundry Club Kölsch, and is also considering making a nonalcoholic beer.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/epic-cleantec-climate-startup-recycling-shower-water-beer.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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57d6e6dbedf8ee45a571810c37174ef37b6aac8e6431b81088b8eb55882ac0cc
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2026-01-06T16:58:01+00:00
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Memory chip giants spark global semiconductor rally as shortages stoke price hikes
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Memory giants Micron, SK Hynix and Samsung have led a rally in semiconductor stocks this year.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/semiconductor-stocks-rally-led-by-asml-tsmc-samsung.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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e71ca7cb2b22580615012627448ded4529ba48442d8f6d8eaf3313934c5b523f
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2026-01-06T16:29:38+00:00
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Meta delays Ray-Ban Display glasses global rollout due to inventory limits, U.S. demand
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the $799 smart glasses in September.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/meta-ray-ban-display-ai-glasses-pause.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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a007c42d130f1bee8a00d8a3592fc460f0b2dce47c62b71417985bbfb2620a4d
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2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00
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6.7 quake jolts offshore Davao Oriental; aftershocks recorded
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A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck offshore of Manay, Davao Oriental on Wednesday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), with several aftershocks recorded and felt in nearby areas. In an advisory, PHIVOLCS said the earthquake occurred at 11:02 a.m. and was located 47 kilometers south-southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental. The quake occurred at a depth of 47 kilometers and was identified as tectonic in origin. PHIVOLCS said the earthquake was felt in nearby areas, with Intensity II reported in Davao City, while an instrumental intensity of Intensity IV was recorded in Malungon, Sarangani. Damage and aftershocks are expected following the earthquake. Meanwhile, no tsunami threat was issued in connection with the quake. As of this writing, PHIVOLCS has recorded at least eight aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.4 tremor that occurred less than an hour later and was felt in more than a dozen areas. Intensity V was reported in Manay, Davao Oriental; Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Intensity IV was felt in Bislig City and Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, as well as Tarragona and Cateel, Davao Oriental. Meanwhile, Intensity III was reported in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur; Boston and Baganga, Davao Oriental; and Claver, Surigao del Norte. Intensity II was felt in Davao City, General Santos City, Butuan City, Baybay City and Palo in Leyte, as well as in Hinundayan, San Juan, and San Francisco in Southern Leyte. The Philippines lies along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.— Edg Adrian A. Eva
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https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2026/01/07/722791/6-7-quake-jolts-offshore-davao-oriental-aftershocks-recorded/
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Business & Finance
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254e37f80093e9d92bb45eb2d5c928ac4948527cca216e6880e01b598a376196
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2026-01-07T03:08:30+00:00
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Philippine jobless rate climbs despite holiday hiring
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By Erika Mae P. Sinaking The Philippines’ unemployment rate rose in November 2025 despite the start of the holiday hiring season, as bad weather and job losses in key industries outweighed the usual fourth-quarter lift, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. Preliminary results of the labor force survey put the jobless rate at 4.4%, up from 3.2% a year earlier, though lower than 5% in October. This translated to about 2.25 million jobless Filipinos, compared with 1.66 million in November 2024 and 2.54 million in the previous month. National Statistician and PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the year-on-year weakening reflected weather-related disruptions and employment declines across several major sectors. “[There were] wo major typhoons in November last year, including Tinio, and their impact was widespread,” he told a news briefing on Wednesday. He noted that the storms disrupted economic activity, transport and supply chains, affecting hiring and job retention across regions. Employment showed mixed signals. The number of employed Filipinos rose to 49.26 million in November from 48.62 million in October, pointing to some seasonal recovery. However, employment remained below the 49.54 million recorded in November 2024, underscoring the lingering effects of disruptions earlier in the year. As a result, the employment rate slipped to 95.6% in November from 96.8% a year earlier, though better than 95% in October. Mr. Mapa said the typical hiring boost during the “ber months” was weaker than expected. He noted that there were 49.26 million employed people in November 2025, 277,000 fewer than a year earlier. The impact was most visible in sectors sensitive to mobility, such as tourism and logistics. Underemployment conditions, however, improved. The number of underemployed Filipinos fell to 5.11 million in November from 5.35 million a year earlier and 5.81 million in October. The underemployment rate declined to 10.4% from 10.8% in November 2024 and 12% in the previous month, suggesting fewer workers were seeking more hours or better jobs. Labor force participation showed a modest month-on-month increase but remained lower than a year earlier — 64% in November compared with 64.6% a year earlier and 63.6% in October. This meant a labor force of 51.52 million from 51.16 million in October and 51.2 million recorded in November 2024.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/07/722774/philippine-jobless-rate-climbs-despite-holiday-hiring/
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Business & Finance
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9c2e4495b53bd7390d0bca74f36bfed1dfb3470c674cc7868293db32bb6022d2
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2026-01-07T03:06:42+00:00
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BoC falls short of full-year target in 2025
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The Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Wednesday said revenue collections rose to P934.400 billion in 2025, but missed its P958.7-billion full-year target, amid a rice import ban and weak import volumes. In a statement on Wednesday, the BoC said it booked P934.400 billion in revenues in 2025, up 1.9% or P17.726 billion from the P916.7-billion actual collection in 2024. “This growth was achieved despite the challenges including the lower import volumes, the suspension of rice importation, and global commodity price fluctuations,” it said. However, the full-year collection was 2.53% below the agency’s P958.7-billion target. The government’s ban on rice imports ran from September to December. “2025 was more than numbers or milestones—it was a year that showed the Bureau of Customs can transform, proving that integrity, service, and trust are not just ideals, but values we put into action every single day,” BoC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said in a statement. Mr. Nepomuceno had earlier flagged slower import activity and corruption scandals as risks to the collection target. For 2026, Customs is now targeting revenues of P1.013.8 trillion, P1.072.5 trillion in 2027 and P1.139.9 trillion in 2028. – Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/07/722775/boc-falls-short-of-full-year-target-in-2025/
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Business & Finance
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ab632a2369b3c9a4d361da15aa8e2ec1a54aed0cb97eaa58eda0c8626dd68d7a
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2026-01-07T01:03:09+00:00
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China bans dual-use goods exports for Japan military over Taiwan remarks
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BEIJING — China has banned exports of dual-use items to Japan that can be used for military purposes, according to a commerce ministry statement on Tuesday, Beijing’s latest move in reaction to an early November remark by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan. Dual-use items are goods, software or technologies that have both civilian and military applications, including certain rare earth elements that are essential for making drones and chips. Exports of such items to military users or for any purposes that contribute to Japan’s military strength are banned, effective immediately, the statement said, adding that organizations or individuals from any country or region that violated the ban would be held legally liable. Japan’s foreign ministry said it strongly protested the measures and demanded that China withdraw them. It called the move “absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable.” It said the measures targeted only Japan and that they “deviate significantly from international practice.” ‘PROVOCATIVE’ REMARKS Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have deteriorated since Ms. Takaichi said a Chinese attack on the democratically governed island of Taiwan could be deemed an existential threat to Japan, in a remark that Beijing said was “provocative.” China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim that Taipei rejects. The Chinese foreign ministry later questioned Japan’s motives around Taiwan, saying its “provocations” could be a pretext for building up its military forces and overseas missions. In late December, the Japanese cabinet approved a record spending package for the fiscal year starting in April, including a 3.8% increase in the annual military budget to 9 trillion yen ($58 billion). In a commentary in December, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said it had been “alarming” in recent years that Japan had “drastically” readjusted its security policy, increased its defense spending year after year, relaxed restrictions on arms exports, sought to develop offensive weapons and planned to abandon its three non-nuclear principles. China’s own annual defense budget has more than doubled over the last decade. Japan reaffirmed its non-nuclear pledge in mid-December. Beijing’s statement on Tuesday did not specify which items fall under its new curbs. Around 1,100 items are on China’s export control list for dual-use goods and technologies, covering at least seven categories of medium and heavy rare earths such as samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and lutetium. Despite Japan’s efforts to diversify, China still supplies around 60% of its imports of rare earths, macroeconomic research firm Capital Economics estimates. “China has not provided a list of restricted items so at this stage it is impossible to say what impact the export curbs will have,” an official at the Japan External Trade Organization told Reuters, asking not to be identified because they are not authorized to talk to the media. A Japanese government source who spoke on condition that they were not identified called the move “symbolic,” adding: “Until now, China has avoided doing things that would seriously hurt Japan’s business community. By taking this step and causing trouble for Japanese industry, they may be aiming to fuel domestic criticism of Takaichi.” China throttled exports of rare earths to Japan during a previous diplomatic dispute more than a decade ago. So far, China Customs data has shown no sign of a decline in rare earth exports to Japan, though the data is released with some delay. In November, the latest month for which there was data, exports grew 35% to 305 metric tons, the highest tally last year. FEARS OF RETALIATION A Chinese state-affiliated social media blog wrote earlier on Tuesday that China was considering tightening approvals of rare earth export licenses to Japan due to Tokyo’s “recent egregious behavior”, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Some analysts and Japanese firms had feared that China would retaliate by restricting exports of rare earths, essential for Japan’s automotive sector, soon after the diplomatic dispute broke out in November. One Japanese private sector source in Beijing told Reuters on condition of anonymity that it still took a “considerable amount of time” to obtain rare earth export license approvals as of late November, and that many other Japanese firms were in similar positions. But it was unclear whether that was a direct consequence of the diplomatic dispute, they cautioned.— Reuters
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https://www.bworldonline.com/world/2026/01/07/722768/china-bans-dual-use-goods-exports-for-japan-military-over-taiwan-remarks/
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Business & Finance
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7d06bf9b8247800fa7148d0d144d00f2dc91425ecb53ad926172413927d2cae6
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2026-01-06T16:34:14+00:00
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‘February cut on the table,’ says BSP governor Remolona
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FURTHER MONETARY POLICY easing might come as early as the Monetary Board’s first meeting for 2026 amid subdued inflation and dismal economic growth last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said. Asked about the likelihood of a February cut, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said: “(It’s) on the table. Unlikely pero puwede naman (but we could deliver it).” Mr. Remolona said that the latest December inflation print of 1.8% is a “reasonably low rate,” even as it quickened from 1.5% in November. Year on year, it slowed from 2.9% in December 2024. Philippine economic growth in 2025 also likely fell below the government’s target, he added. “I can say that we’re very close to where we want to be in terms of policy,” he told journalists in Mandaluyong City. “There’s a chance that we may cut some more, and there’s also a chance that we may not move at all. But there’s not a lot of probability that we will raise in 2026.” The Monetary Board ended last year with a fifth straight 25-basis-point (bp) cut at its Dec. 11 meeting, bringing the key policy rate to its lowest in over three years at 4.5%. It has so far delivered 200 bps in total cuts since it began its easing cycle in August 2024. The central bank chief said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) may have expanded by 4.6% last year as the flood control corruption scandal continued to drag consumer and investor confidence. This would be below the government’s 5.5%-6.5% target for the year and also lower than the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) latest projection of 4.8%-5%. “There was a loss of confidence of investors. So, investments came down. Consumption also came down,” Mr. Remolona said. “When you realize that your taxes are not really going into infrastructure spending, masakit ’yon eh (that’s painful)… It’s more painful when you know it’s going to the wrong guys. So, that has a big effect,” he added. In the third quarter, GDP growth slumped to an over four-year low of 4% amid allegations that Public Works officials, lawmakers and private contractors received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. Economic managers have since conceded that the economy likely failed to meet the government’s growth target for 2025. Meanwhile, the BSP has repeatedly said following its December meeting that further easing is now limited and would depend on economic developments in the country. Mr. Remolona said they may only deliver two 25-bp cuts if growth slows to below 5% this year due to weak demand. “If we cut two more times, medyo ibig sabihin nu’n, things are worse than we thought (that might mean that things are worse than we thought). So, that would require a bad surprise in the data,” Mr. Remolona said. “If growth is much slower than we anticipated. We’re saying that for 2026, growth will be 5.4%. If it goes below 5%, then there’s ground for one more cut beyond the 25 bps,” he added. For 2026, the central bank sees GDP growth averaging 5.4%, noting that the economy will likely remain sluggish in the first half before picking up in the second half. “Mahaba pala ’tong impact eh ’yung loss of confidence (The impact of the loss of confidence may be prolonged)… it will continue through the first half of 2026,” Mr. Remolona said, noting that a 5.4% growth is “not bad” considering the flood control scandal. The DBCC on Monday revised its growth target for this year to 5-6% from the 6-7% goal previously. Economic growth may further improve to 6.2% in 2027, the BSP chief added, settling near the upper bound of the administration’s 5.5%-6.5% revised goal. The Monetary Board is set to have its first policy meeting this year on Feb. 19. — Katherine K. Chan
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/07/722505/february-cut-on-the-table-says-bsp-governor-remolona/
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Business & Finance
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df50d055f574d1b6fc27609fee0375fd5bb99cb31663b34419bd3258cbfb76da
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2026-01-06T16:32:26+00:00
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Factory output grows at slowest pace in 7 months
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MANUFACTURING OUTPUT growth fell to a seven‑month low in November, weighed down by weak domestic consumption and sluggish export demand. Preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed factory output, as measured by the volume of production index, fell by 1.5% year on year in November, a reversal from the revised 1% growth in October. Year on year, the decline slowed from the 4.5% drop in November 2024. The November reading was the slowest output growth in seven months or since the 2.4% decline in April 2025. On a monthly basis, November’s output contracted by 2.8%, reversing the 5% growth in October. Stripping out seasonality factors, it slipped by 3.5%. Year to date, factory output fell by 0.1%, a reversal from the 0.7% growth in the same period in 2024. PSA data showed the November manufacturing performance was mainly due to the slower month-on-month growth in food products (4.2% in November from 8.1% in October); and the decline in coke and refined petroleum products (-11.4% from -2.7%); and beverages (-2.8% from 4.9% growth). “Manufacturing output contracted by 1.5% in November, reflecting a sharper deterioration in operating conditions as the Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 47.4 from 50.1, driven by weak domestic and export demand and typhoon‑related production disruptions,” Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said in an e-mail. S&P Global PMI fell to over a four-year low of 47.4 in November, a reversal from the 50.1 in October. “Beyond these, we continue to monitor declining export orders, softer purchasing activity, thinning inventories, and early signs of labor shedding — signals consistent with a sector adjusting to both global headwinds and domestic supply constraints,” added Mr. Asuncion. Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa, chief economist at Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., said the manufacturing performance reflected the slowdown in economic activity in the third quarter. “In particular, softer household consumption may have weighed on volume of production,” he said in an e-mail. In the third quarter, GDP grew by 4%, the slowest in over four years. This brought the nine-month average growth to 5%, below the government’s 5.5%-6.5% target. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said that the decline in November came after most orders were frontloaded in the first nine months of 2025. “Actually, both local and export production were fast-tracked in the first three quarters of the year… There was front-loading for year-end deliveries. So, production tapered down in the fourth quarter,” said Mr. Luis-Ortiz in mixed English and Tagalog in a phone call. Capital utilization averaged 77.4% in November, slightly lower than October’s 77.6%. All sectors have reached an average capacity utilization rate of more than 60% during the month. Going forward, Mr. Asuncion anticipates a “modest” improvement in December and “gradual” recovery through 2026. “Our view is that while November’s slump reflects temporary disruptions and cyclical demand softness, forward sentiment remains constructive. Manufacturers posted their strongest optimism since November 2024, and with domestic demand expected to firm up alongside an eventual BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) easing cycle… consistent with medium‑term projections that see manufacturing output trending higher toward 2026,” said Mr. Asuncion. Mr. Mapa said a gradual recovering in manufacturing is likely as “inventories decline and demand returns over the next few months.” “Manufacturing looks like to grow especially in export, but not as fast as we would like to, it will continue to grow but still we are left behind by our neighbors due to weak demand,” said Mr. Ortiz-Luis. — Lourdes O. Pilar
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/07/722651/factory-output-grows-at-slowest-pace-in-7-months/
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Business & Finance
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6b91b722f74d2b3c9184f0a79ebf87653d116c04110ada9c14a592772ef1917e
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2026-01-06T16:31:13+00:00
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ADB expects PHL household spending to improve in 2026
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By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) said household consumption in the Philippines is likely to rebound in 2026 on the back of easing inflation and interest rates, after a corruption scandal and adverse weather dampened spending in recent months. However, analysts warned that depending on tax relief to spur consumption could undermine fiscal consolidation efforts. ADB Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries said household final consumption expenditure, which accounts for over 70% of the economy, is expected to “strengthen in 2026 amid low inflation and accommodative monetary policy.” “More broadly, policies need to focus on raising incomes and reducing vulnerability,” he said in an e-mailed statement to BusinessWorld. Mr. Jeffries said these measures should include expanding higher‑quality employment, boosting productivity through skills upgrading, and targeted social protection for vulnerable households. This comes as private consumption growth moderated in the third quarter of 2025, particularly discretionary spending on recreation, hotels and restaurants, partly due to weather‑related disruptions, he said. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed household final consumption expenditure slowed to 4.1% in the third quarter from 5.2% a year ago. This was the slowest since the 4.8% contraction in the first quarter of 2021. Excluding pandemic years, it was the slowest growth in private spending since the 2.6% increase in the third quarter of 2010. The PSA will release the fourth-quarter and annual 2025 preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) data, including household consumption, on Jan. 29. Despite the slower growth in the third quarter, the ADB said spending on essentials, particularly food, remained resilient, supported by low inflation. Inflation picked up to 1.8% in December from 1.5% in November. This brought the average to 1.7% in 2025. For 2026, the central bank sees inflation accelerating to 3.2%, but still within the 2-4% target band. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has so far delivered a total of 200 bps in cuts since August 2024, after it lowered its policy rate by 25 bps to an over three-year low of 4.5% at its Dec. 11 meeting, amid subdued inflation and sluggish growth. The Monetary Board is scheduled to hold six regular policy meetings in 2026, with the first one set on Feb. 19. TAX RELIEF? To spur household demand and ease public concerns over flood control issues, a lawmaker had proposed giving tax relief to Filipinos, but analysts were divided, saying the measure could lift spending but risk undermining fiscal consolidation. Senator Erwin T. Tulfo filed a bill in the Senate in October to provide a one-time, one-month income tax holiday for individual taxpayers receiving compensation income, effective on the first payroll month immediately following the bill’s approval. Senate Bill No. 1446, or the One-Month Tax Holiday bill, remains pending at the committee level. “A tax relief will only delay fiscal consolidation,” Foundation for Economic Freedom President Calixto V. Chikiamco told BusinessWorld on Tuesday. The Marcos administration aims to bring the deficit down to P1.56 trillion, or 5.5% of GDP, in 2025, and eventually to P1.55 trillion, or 4.3% of GDP, in 2028. Mr. Chikiamco noted that many factors influence consumer spending, such as unemployment, inflation, and wage growth. “Depreciation of the peso will increase OFW (overseas Filipino worker) incomes and spur consumer spending without decreasing government revenues,” he added. The peso has breached the P59-a-dollar mark several times since November and sank to a record low of P59.22 on Dec. 9. Meanwhile, Jonathan L. Ravelas, a senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., argued that tax relief can boost private consumption, but the program has to be “smart and targeted.” “Tax relief can help revive spending, especially after a year of high prices and tight budgets,” he said. “Focus on essentials like VAT (value-added tax) breaks on food and utilities, and give relief to lower- and middle-income families who are more likely to spend,” Mr. Ravelas added. However, he said tax relief must be “time-bound,” and paired with job creation and price stability, so people feel confident to open their wallets. “The problem on spending is due to the uncertain environment due to ‘floodgate,’ the government should fix its trust issues so confidence will come back,” Mr. Ravelas said, referring to the flood control mess. Meanwhile, the ADB’s Mr. Jeffries said improving VAT efficiency and sustaining gains in tax administration through digitalization are key to raising government revenue. “The proposed tax on single-use plastic bags is a notable measure, serving both revenue and environmental objectives by helping address plastic and solid-waste challenges,” he said. BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza earlier said the proposed tax measure is projected to generate between P6 billion and P10 billion annually, “depending on the rate and coverage.” “Beyond taxation, sustained improvements in expenditure efficiency and public financial management are crucial, particularly to strengthen investment planning, project execution, and governance,” Mr. Jeffries said.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/07/722574/adb-expects-phl-household-spending-to-improve-in-2026/
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Business & Finance
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11403d37c73c3ab2e3bcc7d94c6a39b6d3150736001053d5c92a70f5d3dc2216
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2026-01-06T16:09:13+00:00
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Jollibee plans US listing for global business; stock surges
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JOLLIBEE FOODS CORP. on Tuesday said it plans to spin off its international business and list it on a US stock exchange by late 2027 as the Philippine fast-food group plots its global expansion. Its stock jumped the most in more than five years after the announcement. Jollibee, which increasingly is taking aim at global fast-food giants such as McDonald’s and Yum! Brands, Inc. from Los Angeles to Ho Chi Minh City, said it has hired international and local advisers to work on the spinoff and potential US listing. Jollibee Foods Corp. International would include all of the company’s businesses outside its home market, the company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, where its Philippine operations will remain listed. Jollibee shares — after a one-hour trading halt — rose as much as 11.56%, the most since October 2020. “Built on a capital-light model with significant whitespace for expansion, it is positioned to operate in markets that support companies pursuing international scale, innovation, and long-term global growth,” the company said. “The transaction is intended to be executed in late 2027, subject to prevailing market conditions, completion of appropriate diligence and securing all required regulatory and legal approvals across relevant jurisdictions,” it added. Establishing two listed businesses is meant to sharpen the strategic focus of each company and enhance the “clarity of each equity story,” Jollibee said. The spinoff would let investors value the “stable, cash-generative Philippine business separately from the higher-growth but more volatile international operations,” COL Financial Group analyst Rachelle Biacora said in a note. However, the company’s domestic unit might have a lower market value, which could affect its weighting in some stock indexes, she added. Jollibee shareholders would receive a number of shares in the international business equal to their company holdings at the time of the listing, the company said. Jollibee’s restructuring and spinoff of foreign operations is a novel way for a Philippine blue chip to list those units, allowing eligible shareholders “to capture the complete economics of the move,” Juan Paolo E. Colet, managing director at China Bank Capital Corp., said in a Viber message. He added that spinning off and listing Jollibee Foods Corp. International would unlock full value in Jollibee’s international operations, with Jollibee Foods Corp. likely to see investor buzz over the international company’s valuation speculation. “Jollibee Foods Corp. International will be seen as having a comparatively higher growth potential given the sheer size of the global consumer space, but that also comes with the associated higher risk of breaking into new markets,” Mr. Colet said. “Meantime, Jollibee Foods Corp. will become a pure play on the Philippine food-service market where there is still room to refresh and grow a predominantly mature brand portfolio,” he added. The food giant owns several brands, including its iconic Jollibee chain known for its sweet-style spaghetti and crispy fried chicken. Jollibee is building its international profile, striking 27 cross-border deals worth about $1.1 billion since 2000, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That includes US brands such as Smashburger and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, which Jollibee struggled to turn around, and recently, South Korea’s Compose Coffee. The group had 10,304 stores as of September, 6,859 of which were located overseas across over 30 countries, including China, Canada and Vietnam. International business generated about 43% of Jollibee’s P224.2-billion ($3.8 billion) revenue from January to September. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno with Bloomberg News
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722660/jollibee-plans-us-listing-for-global-business-stock-surges/
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Business & Finance
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8b94fecc084b3c751828ef7a6eec05b68e7c37a5de83382c49f748fe98f6da9f
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2026-01-06T16:08:13+00:00
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Meralco 2025 energy sales decline by 0.65%
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MANILA ELECTRIC CO.’s (Meralco) energy sales volume declined last year due to soft demand in residential and commercial segments, a company executive said. Indicative figures showed energy sales within Meralco’s franchise area fell 0.65% to 53,257 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2025 from 53,606 GWh in 2024, Meralco Senior Vice-President and Chief Revenue Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz said in a Viber message. Residential and commercial sales dropped 2% and 0.5%, respectively, while the industrial segment grew by 1%. Meralco has yet to consolidate figures from Clark Electric Distribution Corp. and other distribution utilities. Clark Electric, 65% owned by Meralco, serves the Clark Special Economic Zone. This year, the power distributor is targeting 3% growth in energy sales, supported by higher customer connections and normalizing temperatures. The distribution business contributed 55% of Meralco’s consolidated net income in the first nine months of 2025, which rose 14% to P40 billion. The company remains confident of meeting its full-year core profit guidance of P50 billion. “Based on the growth of our power generation and steady performance of our core distribution in the past nine months, we stay positive we will achieve our full-year core profit guidance of P50 billion,” Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told a briefing in October. Shares of Meralco gained 1.37% to close at P593 each on the local bourse on Tuesday. Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — S.J. Talavera
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722659/meralco-2025-energy-sales-decline-by-0-65/
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Business & Finance
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af967bee64da0fab9848f947a2817a46b8d998e52cc9e26b1306bc60cf33e489
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2026-01-06T16:07:13+00:00
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ACEN powers Schneider Cavite plants with RE
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AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORP. (APC), a flagship brand of French company Schneider Electric SE, has tapped the retail electricity supply unit of Ayala-led ACEN Corp. to power its manufacturing facilities in Cavite using renewable energy (RE). In a statement on Tuesday, ACEN said APC and Schneider Electric entered into an RE supply agreement with ACEN RES under the government’s Green Energy Option Program, which allows electricity end-users with an average monthly demand of at least 100 kilowatts to choose renewable energy as their power source. The agreement covers five facilities in Cavite, which are mainly engaged in semiconductor manufacturing. These sites began operating on renewable energy in December and include both office and production locations. “This collaboration sets in motion our transition to 100% renewable energy at the Cavite Smart Factory — a bold stride in our journey toward net zero,” Antonio Cheng, Jr., plant director for the Cavite Cluster at Schneider Electric Philippines, Inc., said in the statement. He added that the Cavite facility is set to become the first plant inside a government economic zone in Luzon, and the first Schneider Electric factory in East Asia, to run entirely on renewable energy. ACEN President and Chief Executive Officer Eric T. Francia said the partnership shows how big industrial players could advance the country’s energy transition. ACEN RES accounts for 57% of the Green Energy Option Program market and obtains power from the company’s solar, wind and geothermal assets. ACEN has about 7 gigawatts of attributable renewable energy capacity and has completed its shift away from conventional power generation. The company earlier said it had transitioned its entire generation portfolio to renewable energy after divesting its conventional power assets. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722658/acen-powers-schneider-cavite-plants-with-re/
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Business & Finance
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0694f44a8021e0dca970247632d2ba06101c95e9463a0d63b114058cc02ac9fb
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2026-01-06T16:06:12+00:00
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RLX, SPX Philippines sign leasing deal
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ROBINSONS LOGISTIX & Industrials, Inc. (RLX) said it has signed its second warehouse leasing agreement with SPX Philippines, Inc., the logistics partner of e-commerce platform Shopee, Inc., as both companies seek to expand their distribution network across Luzon. “RLX’s modern facilities in strategic locations like Calamba support our continued growth as we serve customers nationwide through our multi-partner logistics network,” SPX Philippines head Martin N. Yu said in a statement on Tuesday. The deal expands the companies’ partnership, which began with the opening of SPX’s biggest sorting center within RLX’s property in Calamba, Laguna in 2024. The facility serves customers in the National Capital Region, South Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The renewed partnership aligns with both companies’ push to improve speed, efficiency and reliability in the domestic logistics sector. “It also reinforces RLX’s position as a leading provider of future-ready, scalable logistics solutions built on innovation and operational excellence,” RLX said. SPX offers services such as pick-up, drop-off, cash-on-delivery and register-as-a-service point, and operates across Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Brazil. SPX Express Philippines is a unit of Singapore-based Sea Group. “Our collaboration with SPX Philippines highlights RLX’s commitment to delivering Grade A logistics facilities that help partners scale and grow,” RLX Senior Vice-President and Business Unit General Manager Cora Ang Ley said. RLX, the industrial and logistics arm of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), operates 13 facilities across Calamba, Laguna; Sucat and Muntinlupa City; Pampanga; and Rizal. Its warehouses feature modern specifications and flexible layouts. RLX posted a 2% increase in nine-month revenue to P661 million. Parent firm RLC reported a 19% rise in attributable net income to P3.3 billion for the period. Shares of RLC rose 1.1% or 18 centavos to close at P16.58 on the Philippine Stock Exchange. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722657/rlx-spx-philippines-sign-leasing-deal/
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Business & Finance
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abd6a9deff51bdb9e46c4f5c5490297e5a8c94b88e668ac7dee6cbe2c8afe502
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2026-01-06T16:05:11+00:00
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Updates to REIT rules, rate cuts may attract listings, says ICCP
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THE Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed updates to real estate investment trust (REIT) rules, alongside possible interest rate cuts by the central bank, could encourage more REIT listings, the Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP) said. “If interest rates come down, that would be good for REITs because issuers would be more encouraged to come to market as they would not have to offer very high dividend yields,” ICCP President and Chief Operating Officer Jesus Mariano P. Ocampo said in a statement on Tuesday. “REITs are a dividend story at the end of the day.” Under the updated REIT rules, the SEC has expanded the definition of income-generating assets to include sectors such as power, infrastructure and telecommunications. The rules, which took effect this month, also extend sponsors’ reinvestment deadlines and strengthen disclosure and governance requirements. Mr. Ocampo said the changes could attract billion-peso REIT offerings from tollway operators, water concessionaires, fiber optic network providers, cell tower operators and data-center developers. He added that the timing of the regulatory changes aligns with a more accommodative monetary environment. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has cut interest rates by 200 basis points since August 2024. BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has said another rate cut remains possible at the central bank’s February policy meeting, citing subdued inflation and weak economic growth last year. The central bank ended 2025 with an additional 25-basis-point cut on Dec. 11, bringing the key policy rate to 4.5%, the lowest in more than three years. Mr. Ocampo cited the surge in REIT activity from 2020 to 2021, noting that low interest rates during that period helped spur listings. As rates decline, pressure on issuers to offer elevated dividend yields eases, making public listings a more viable and attractive capital-raising option, he said. However, Mr. Ocampo said actual listings would still depend on issuer readiness, asset valuation and broader market conditions. ICCP is a medium-sized group with businesses spanning investment banking, venture capital, industrial-estate development and township development. The Philippines has eight listed REITs — AREIT, DDMP REIT, Inc., Filinvest REIT Corp., RL Commercial REIT, Inc., MREIT, Inc., VistaREIT, Inc., Citicore Energy REIT Corp. and Premier Island Power REIT Corp. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722655/updates-to-reit-rules-rate-cuts-may-attract-listings-says-iccp/
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Business & Finance
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06dac1526639477e7819f3d21d49950acbeca68232966be522af442db1a1bb9e
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2026-01-06T16:04:37+00:00
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Civic mindedness is a must to fight corruption
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https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/07/722561/civic-mindedness-is-a-must-to-fight-corruption/
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Business & Finance
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e05d9a35d01e35add18f5d042ca615d73998951692d21a059f2a4c4a2f93acef
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2026-01-06T16:04:23+00:00
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Artistic experimentation focus of brand-new Rift Gallery
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1 of 3 OPEN CITY banner by Carla Gamalinda — BRONTË H. LACSAMANA SAFETY BREACH by Laura Abejo — BRONTË H. LACSAMANA KESTREL REYES’ paintings — BRONTË H. LACSAMANA A PATCHWORK banner representing generations of women, paintings that stitch together memory and trauma, and sculptures and video works depicting ecological crises are just some of the pieces on view at the newly opened Rift Gallery, located along EDSA. Titled rift / making through the cracks, the gallery’s inaugural exhibit features works by Laura Abejo, Aiess Alonso, Nathalie Dagmang, Carla Gamalinda, Nicolei Buendia Gupit, Solana Lim Perez, and Kestrel Reyes. They can be found on the second floor of the historic V.V. Soliven Building, one of the first structures built along EDSA, just a few steps away from the Santolan-Annapolis MRT station. Those who regularly traverse the capital’s expansive avenue may find it strange to finally enter an old building that they usually ignore, but the works of art that await in the quaint gallery space are worth it. Carla Gamalinda’s banner Open City greets guests with a large sign made of stitched-together fabric of various colors. According to the artist, she put it together from pieces in her grandmother’s wardrobe, using her great-grandmother’s 1920s sewing machine left in their ancestral home. Ms. Gamalinda explained that she had to “relearn how to use the old machine,” which required help from her mother. This means the work involves four generations of women, reflecting a politics of care. “I cut up the fabric and stitched together a process of destruction and reconstruction,” she said in her artist’s statement. “When you study the stitches, you can see my learning curve: some of them are shabby while some show that I have gotten a grip on the machine already.” The banner becoming the sort of centerpiece of Rift Gallery’s first show was very important, according to Carissa Pobre, one of the gallery’s owners and the curator of the exhibit. “A few months ago, we put together a call for different artists who might want to join our inaugural exhibition, with a prompt centered on the concept of ‘a rift,’” she told BusinessWorld during a visit in December. “I started to notice that it was women artists who were gravitating towards the concept, which was interesting. The show ended up showcasing seven women artists, and I felt the urgency of how each of them reflected back something in the political and ecological climate at the end of the year,” Ms. Pobre added. Another approach to the concept is a documentation of personal feelings of crisis through mixed-media paintings. Laura Abejo’s Safety Breach, for example, involves threads sewn into the canvas, to separate different images of places and people. Ms. Abejo said in her artist’s statement that the technique is “a metaphor for making amends even when there are things unheard and words unsaid. “Despite the rift, we try to hold it all together and set boundaries,” she explained. “The rift can be felt in the patches cut out and mended from the canvas, as well as the patches that don’t fix anything. They just obscure the layer underneath. I wanted to emulate the feeling of uncertainty and tension we’re experiencing these days in light of recent events.” A similar effect occurs in Solana Lim Perez’s smaller paintings, Awakenings and A Landscape of Tidings, which are collages of watercolor and pen and ink. For her, they are a record of “memory-hallucinations as paintings,” which became an anchor point for the artist’s personal shifts in identity at an uncertain time in her life. ARTISTIC EXPLORATION As the curator, Ms. Pobre told BusinessWorld that the gallery prioritizes younger artists and artists who might not be welcomed by a conservative art market. “We’re hoping to build a culture that’s based on artistic exploration and cultural education,” she said. This will include events held at the space, such as film screenings, workshops, bazaars, book launches, and live music performances. The exhibit’s launch on Dec. 14 saw people come together to watch Habitat, a short film by Aiess Alonso, which depicts the struggle of fishermen in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. Her video work is also projected on the wall in a corner of the gallery. “It’s just so strange that the issues of climate emergency and flooding, which she had done in the wake of Yolanda thereabouts, are still very relevant issues today,” said Ms. Pobre. The other work being projected in the video installation corner is Nicolei Buendia Gupit’s video which contains voiceover anecdotes of people from a community concerned about water sanitation. “I explore ecological and geographical rifts as sites of time-space rupture shaped by the intertwined forces of climate change and global capitalism. These ruptures create fault lines in histories and environments, disrupting the lives of coastal, migrant, and diasporic communities,” Ms. Gupit said in her statement. In front of the wall where the videos are projected are sculptures of water jugs strewn across the floor. What makes them unique are how they are covered with news print that references climate issues. “Recognizing climate change as the defining crisis of our era, I focus on recording narratives from the ground, stories from frontline communities whose knowledge and lived experiences challenge dominant understandings of our climate,” she added. Nathalie Dagmang’s paper collages, inspired by her ethnographic research on soil in riverside farms, as well as Kestrel Reyes’ paintings, inspired by tectonic surfaces, atmospheric patterns, and cellular networks that she studies as a chemical engineer, also present unique approaches to the “rift” concept. Ms. Pobre pointed out that the gallery, even in its construction, is meant to be a contrast to traditional art spaces. Instead of a white cube, it is a gray cube, harkening to a brutalist, industrial feel. Even its location is meant to be “a fissure within the capital’s corridors of power: proximate to the EDSA Shrine, Camps Crame and Aguinaldo, and mall-ified mausoleums of surplus, all of which scaffold hegemonic lifeways in the mega-urban sprawl,” says the gallery’s manifesto which can be found on its walls. It maintains that to rift is “to break away in perspective, discourse, movement, or form, so as to make space for experimentation,” and “to break free from the prestige-driven onus of the mainstream cultural establishment.” “We thought about what kind of identity we wanted a new gallery in the city to be,” Ms. Pobre said. “We’re ending 2025 in a really strange time where the rift is literally what we’re in, and we don’t know how or we’re thinking of ways to create while we’re in this.” The exhibit rift / making through the cracks is on view until Feb. 1 at the Rift Gallery, located at the second floor of 2112 V.V. Soliven Building, EDSA, San Juan City. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
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https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2026/01/07/722605/artistic-experimentation-focus-of-brand-new-rift-gallery/
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Business & Finance
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d8b9c2ddc26594dd023d50b866b4d1033cbfc7a7470554895f749cd14cb8ca11
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2026-01-06T16:04:15+00:00
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Gov’t fully awards dual-tranche T-bond offering
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THE GOVERNMENT made a full award of the dual-tranche Treasury bonds (T-bonds) it offered on Tuesday at mixed rates as players moved to buy securities at the start of the year. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised a combined P50 billion as planned via its dual-tenor T-bond sale as total bids reached P124.747 billion, or more than double the amount placed on the auction block. Broken down, the Treasury borrowed P20 billion via the reissued seven-year bonds, with total bids reaching P52.082 billion or more than double the amount on offer. This brought the total outstanding volume for the bond series to P295.6 billion, the BTr said in a statement. The bonds, which have a remaining life of two years and seven months, were awarded at an average rate of 5.467%. Accepted yields ranged from 5.375% to 5.489%. The average rate of the reissued papers fell by 31.2 basis points (bps) from the 5.779% fetched for the series’ last award on April 19, 2022, but was 171.7 bps above the 3.75% coupon for the issue. This was 1.5 bps higher than the 5.452% fetched for the same bond series but 4.9 bps below than the 5.516% quoted for the three-year bond, the benchmark tenor closest to the remaining life of the papers on offer, at the secondary market before Tuesday’s auction, based on PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) Reference Rates data provided by the BTr. Meanwhile, the government raised P30 billion from the reissued 10-year T-bonds, with total bids for the tenor reaching P72.665 billion or over twice the auction volume. This brought the total outstanding volume for the bond series to P522.6 billion. The reissued papers, which have a remaining life of nine years and three months, were awarded at an average rate of 5.985%, with tenders awarded carrying yields from 5.973% to 5.99%. The 10-year bond’s average rate rose by 10.9 bps from the 5.876% fetched for the series’ last award on Dec. 2, but was 39 bps below the 6.375% coupon for the issue. This was also 0.3 bp below the 5.988% seen for the same bond series and 7.3 bps lower than the 6.058% quoted for the 10-year debt at the secondary market before Tuesday’s auction, PHP BVAL Reference Rates data showed. The government fully awarded its T-bond offer as it saw strong demand as players are loading up their portfolios, and with rates fetched near secondary market levels, a trader said in a phone interview. The trader added that appetite for the bonds stayed strong even as December inflation came out higher than expected. Philippine headline inflation picked up to 1.8% last month from 1.5% in November, but slowed from 2.9% in December 2024. The December clip was within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 1.2-2% forecast for the month, but was above the 1.4% median estimate in a BusinessWorld poll of 14 analysts. For 2025, the consumer price index averaged 1.7%, the slowest in nine years or since the 1.3% recorded in 2016. This was slightly above the BSP’s 1.6% forecast for the year but below its 2%-4% target. Meanwhile, T-bond yields ended mixed as the market remains hesitant about locking in their cash in longer tenors due to lingering risks here and abroad, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message. He said the peso’s recent weakness against the dollar could stoke inflation anew, while uncertainty over the US Federal Reserve’s policy path is also driving up long-end yields globally. On Tuesday, the peso slid by eight centavos to close at a fresh near one-month trough of P59.21 against the dollar, just a shade stronger than its record low of P59.22. The dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of those three rivals and three more major peers, edged down 0.2% to 98.238, Reuters reported. It had popped as high as 98.861 on Monday for the first time since Dec. 10. The closely watched US monthly employment report, due on Friday, will be key in shaping expectations for the outlook for monetary policy. Traders currently expect two Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year, showed LSEG calculations based on futures. The nomination of a new Federal Reserve chair in early January is also a key event. Incumbent Jerome H. Powell’s term expires in May. US President Donald J. Trump has pressured the Fed to cut rates, bringing central bank independence into question. The BTr is looking to raise P180 billion from the domestic market this month, or P110 billion via Treasury bills and P70 billion through T-bonds. The government borrows from local and foreign sources to help fund its budget deficit, which is capped at P1.647 trillion or 5.3% of gross domestic product this year. — Aaron Michael C. Sy with Reuters
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/07/722630/govt-fully-awards-dual-tranche-t-bond-offering-2/
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Business & Finance
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f4a474a0cfc90b27e794d75142af1d1f4e77365a874af7818bf01509f6691186
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2026-01-06T16:04:11+00:00
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Rockwell Land eyes P10B for expansion
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By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter ROCKWELL LAND CORP. plans to raise as much as P10 billion from a bond offer to help fund the expansion of its retail and residential portfolio. The proposed issuance will have a base offer of P7 billion, with an oversubscription option of as much as P3 billion, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Tuesday. The bond sale represents the initial tranche of Rockwell Land’s P20-billion shelf registration program. The Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings) assigned the proposed bonds a PRS Aaa rating with a stable outlook, indicating the highest credit quality and minimal credit risk. A stable outlook signals that the rating is expected to be maintained over the next 12 months. PhilRatings said the rating reflects Rockwell Land’s established brand, solid management team and support from its parent company, sustained growth, strong liquidity position and conservative capital structure. “The bond issuance could anchor Rockwell’s expansion into the retail and hospitality sectors given that recent deals — especially the acquisition of Alabang Town Center (ATC) — require extensive cash [outlays],” Shawn Ray R. Atienza, an AP Securities, Inc. equity research analyst, said in a Viber message. The bond offer is likely to attract strong investor interest, particularly after ATC in Muntinlupa City was added to the company’s asset portfolio, said Juan Paolo E. Colet, managing director at China Bank Capital Corp. Rockwell Land recently acquired a 74.8% stake in Alabang Commercial Corp., which owns and operates ATC, for P21.6 billion. ATC, a 17.5-hectare retail and office complex south of Metro Manila, is a prime asset with significant redevelopment potential, Mr. Colet said in a Viber message, adding that investors are likely to expect the mall to contribute to Rockwell Land’s financial performance over time. Since December 2024, Rockwell Land has launched three premium residential projects in provincial locations, betting on demand for luxury developments outside Metro Manila. Its expansion pipeline also includes a second Power Plant Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga; additional retail space within Rockwell at IPI Center in Cebu City; and Power Plant Mall Bacolod in Rockwell Center Bacolod. PhilRatings said the company’s land bank of more than 500 hectares supports its growth outlook. For the first nine months of 2025, Rockwell Land posted a 7% increase in consolidated revenues to P15 billion, driven by strong performance from its high-end residential projects. Shares of Rockwell Land rose 1.62% or three centavos to close at P1.88 each, according to data from the Philippine Stock Exchange.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722654/rockwell-land-eyes-p10b-for-expansion/
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Business & Finance
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4995d53a1fa4b710b88e4bd39446d584704481d9109b8bf057b2477671e3b724
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2026-01-06T16:03:31+00:00
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Corruption’s economic costs
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https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/07/722559/corruptions-economic-costs/
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Business & Finance
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9339ca9aa6bf923ab6449584a2842a2e472641e88f9eaec02301558bd840a1ae
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2026-01-06T16:03:24+00:00
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PXP gets nod to continue Galoc field operations
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PXP ENERGY CORP. and its partners have secured approval to continue production at the Galoc Oil Field off northwest Palawan after getting a fresh petroleum service contract from the Philippine government. In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the upstream oil and gas company said the field’s operator, NPG Pty. Ltd., has received a copy of petroleum service contract 88, which was executed on Dec. 18. The contract replaces service contract 14C-1, which expired on Dec. 17 and covered the exploration, development and production of petroleum resources at the Galoc field. PXP said the Galoc field has produced more than 25 million barrels of oil since operations began in October 2008 and remains commercially viable despite natural production decline, allowing operations to extend beyond the previous contract’s term. To enable continued production, the Galoc consortium — composed of NPG, Philodrill Corp. and Forum Energy Philippines Corp. — filed an application last year for a development and production petroleum service contract. PXP holds an indirect 3.21% interest in the Galoc field through its unit Forum Energy Philippines Corp. While the company acknowledged that Galoc is a mature and depleting asset, it said the replacement contract “provides a framework to extend operations and maximize value from remaining resources, subject to technical and commercial considerations.” Service contract 88 adds to PXP’s portfolio of recently awarded petroleum contracts. Last year, the company and its joint venture partners secured service contracts for the Sulu Sea blocks service contracts 80 and 81, as well as service contract 86 covering the Octon Block in northwest Palawan. PXP said these contracts strengthen its position in oil and gas exploration and support the Philippine government’s objective of increasing domestic energy production. For the third quarter, PXP posted a wider attributable net loss of P15.17 million, compared with P7.54 million a year earlier, as operating revenues declined. PXP shares rose 0.81% to close at P2.50 apiece on the Philippine Stock Exchange. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722733/pxp-gets-nod-to-continue-galoc-field-operations/
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Business & Finance
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013d31801a28f2f0a9662e3f7d740903cc1589794e7f51adb66a167fbb764403
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2026-01-06T16:03:14+00:00
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PDIC studying return of P107-billion remittance after Supreme Court ruling
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THE PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp.’s (PDIC) legal team is now reviewing whether it can get back the over P107 billion in funds it remitted to the government after the Supreme Court struck down the special provision under the 2024 budget that enabled the transfer. “In light of the Supreme Court decision, the lawyers are going back and looking at these issues again and seeing whether the PDIC can get the money back. So, it’s under consideration,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and PDIC Chair Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said on Tuesday. In January 2025, the PDIC remitted P107.23 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury as “unrestricted retained earnings” under a special provision of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and a circular from the Department of Finance (DoF). Under the special provision, government-owned or -controlled corporations were authorized to return their excess reserve funds to the Treasury to finance unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) also remitted P60 billion in excess funds under the same policy. However, the Supreme Court last month ruled that the GAA provision and DoF circular were void as both were carried out “with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.” The decision was for petitions specifically on the PhilHealth transfer. Mr. Remolona said the PDIC only remitted the funds to the government after its lawyers confirmed that the law allowed the transfer. “And then there was an analysis of how — is the buffer sufficient to cover deposits that would be lost? And analysis suggested that yes, it was,” he added. “In fact, the remaining buffer was enough for the PDIC to raise the [deposit insurance] threshold to P1 million from P500,000.” Groups have been calling for the return of PDIC’s remittance, saying these funds are needed to protect depositors’ savings and ensure the stability of the banking system. — Katherine K. Chan
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/07/722629/pdic-studying-return-of-p107-billion-remittance-after-supreme-court-ruling/
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Business & Finance
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b3fd0997920c2dd2b11688f4f79d63a9a5ebe48244f8938ff79410439c830a1b
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2026-01-06T16:02:56+00:00
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Philippine startups face tighter funding in 2026
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By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter PHILIPPINE STARTUPS face tighter funding conditions this year amid macroeconomic uncertainty, as investors demand clearer revenue models and growth strategies, analysts said. “The Philippine startup landscape in 2026 will reward discipline, not hype,” Dan I. Siazon, managing partner and co-founder at Kickstart Ventures, said in an e-mailed reply to questions. Investors are becoming more selective, prioritizing startups that show strong fundamentals, proven customer demand, recurring revenue, sound governance, and a clear path to scale, he added. “There’s tighter funding for early-stage valuations, and late-stage capital could remain scarce, especially in the Philippines, where there have been no recent late-stage deals,” Mr. Siazon said. Paulo Campos III, founding managing general partner at Kaya Founders, said startup funding may remain “broadly stable” but uneven this year. “Our outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic,” he said in a Viber message. “We expect a selective but constructive funding environment, rather than a broad-based rebound.” Mr. Siazon said startups expected to attract investor interest include those in health technology, business-to-business services, climate and energy solutions, and financial technology platforms. However, political uncertainty in the Philippines could weigh on economic activity and pose challenges for both large industries and startups, he said. “This adds to the necessity for startups to be built to last and have strong fundamentals,” Mr. Siazon said. Mr. Campos said macroeconomic uncertainty and heightened governance scrutiny mean investors will continue to set a high bar for capital efficiency, unit economics and credible paths to profitability. For startups, this translates into longer fundraising cycles and greater pressure to show discipline early, he said. Alewijn Aidan K. Ong, assistant general manager for business development at state-run National Development Corp., said startups tied to construction technology could be affected by slower infrastructure spending linked to a corruption scandal. “With the biggest infrastructure spender, the government, toning down expenditure due to the corruption scandal, some startups that are part of the value chain may be adversely affected,” he said in a Viber message. Data from the Department of Budget and Management showed infrastructure spending fell 40.1% to P65.9 billion in October, amid a graft scandal involving flood control projects that has also dampened economic activity. Gross domestic product grew 4% in the third quarter, the slowest in more than four years, weighed down by weak household consumption and reduced public infrastructure spending. In the first half of 2025, startup equity funding in the Philippines dropped 55% to $86.4 million from a year earlier, according to a joint report by Kickstart Ventures and Singapore-based business news platform DealStreetAsia.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/bw-launchpad/2026/01/07/722639/philippine-startups-face-tighter-funding-in-2026/
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Business & Finance
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59082ed4a73a38f26651ee3337ed92266154291842c9e801d7d9aa0957bd9d3c
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2026-01-06T16:02:30+00:00
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Of rules, rulers, and leadership in a digital age
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https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/07/722558/of-rules-rulers-and-leadership-in-a-digital-age/
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Business & Finance
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8e8dfec8377709de08daf2c661b654c9d714e8a0b9139b77510f28e5727eb527
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2026-01-06T16:02:20+00:00
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Globe eyes more secure infra investment vs scams
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GLOBE TELECOM, INC. said stronger investment in secure infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) is needed to protect the public online as digital scams and cyberthreats become more sophisticated. “Globe is laying the groundwork for a secure, AI-powered future by building enterprise-grade infrastructure that includes agent-based architectures and shared landing zones,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The Ayala-led telecommunication firm said a stronger AI foundation is critical as cyber-risks rise alongside the wider adoption of AI technologies. Local companies face a higher risk of AI-driven scams this year and need to strengthen intelligence-led cybersecurity measures and employee awareness to limit exposure, according to cybersecurity firm Trend Micro. “Resilience today means more than uptime. It’s about systems that stay ethical, secure, and explainable as they scale,” said Derick Ohmar Adil, Globe head of AI and privacy governance. Globe said scam tactics are evolving, with threat actors using tools such as fake cell towers and cross-border coordination to bypass traditional safeguards. In response, the company said it has blocked all person-to-person SMS messages containing links — making it the only mobile operator in the country to do so — and removed links from its own text broadcasts. It also uses machine learning models to flag suspicious activity. Globe added that public-private partnerships should be treated as essential infrastructure to expand rural connectivity while supporting broader AI readiness. Globe shares rose 1.9% or P30 each to close at P1,611 on the Philippine Stock Exchange. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722731/globe-eyes-more-secure-infra-investment-vs-scams/
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Business & Finance
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385d39dc7880aa0ae34f71fc77e95f9cc02b76282b7e43f19c5663cdac39d069
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2026-01-06T16:02:16+00:00
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December inflation quickens to 1.8%
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HIGHER FOOD PRICES during the holiday season lifted inflation to 1.8% in December, although the full-year average eased to 1.7% — the slowest in nearly a decade, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday. Read the full story. .
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https://www.bworldonline.com/infographics/2026/01/07/722688/december-inflation-quickens-to-1-8/
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Business & Finance
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2b990f48397603c7f8114e82f4f9f2a8c84ead678278f09daf2284b314c81e12
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2026-01-06T16:02:14+00:00
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EastWest Bank partners with PayMongo for online payments acceptance
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EAST WEST Banking Corp. (EastWest Bank) has partnered with PayMongo Philippines, Inc. to allow the bank’s business clients to accept online payments at cheaper rates. Under the partnership, EastWest Bank’s business clients can integrate PayMongo’s online payment gateway at “preferential” merchant discount rates, it said in a statement on Tuesday. This will allow them to accept card, wallet and digital payments at competitive prices. “This partnership is about giving businesses the easier eay to bank and transact. By including PayMongo’s capabilities into our ecosystem, we’re enabling easier online payments, faster settlement, and a smoother digital commerce experience, all at a cost that supports their growth,” EastWest Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jerry G. Ngo said. “We’re pleased to partner with EastWest in broadening access to digital payment solutions for more Filipino entrepreneurs. By working together, we can offer tools that make digital transactions easier and support the operational needs of today’s entrepreneurs — all while contributing to stronger digital financial infrastructure in the Philippines,” PayMongo President and CEO Elmer M. Malolos said. EastWest Bank said it plans to expand its collaboration with PayMongo to explore other ways to integrate emerging financial technologies into its offerings and services for entrepreneurs. “This partnership comes at a time when the Philippine fintech ecosystem is accelerating rapidly, from the rise of embedded finance and tokenized assets to open-banking models and next-generation payment rails. By aligning payments, settlements, and banking services, EastWest is positioning itself as a strategic innovation partner for businesses navigating a digital economy,” it added. EastWest Bank’s attributable net income rose by 6.25% year on year to P2.48 billion in the third quarter of 2025. This brought its nine-month profit to P6.62 billion, up by 13.81% from the same period in 2024. The bank’s shares went up by eight centavos or 0.68% to close at P11.90 each on Tuesday. — Aaron Michael C. Sy
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/07/722628/eastwest-bank-partners-with-paymongo-for-online-payments-acceptance/
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Business & Finance
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6b752bbe878eb173ac809ceabc65341e6cabe348893be02bfb7a7eaad9821373
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2026-01-06T16:01:56+00:00
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Kaya Founders to invest in more early-stage startups this year
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LOCAL VENTURE capital firm Kaya Founders plans to invest in eight to 12 startups this year, focusing on early-stage financial technology and business-to-business (B2B) platforms. “In 2026, we expect to invest in approximately eight to 12 startups, primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages,” Paulo Campos III, founding managing general partner at Kaya Founders, said in a Viber message. The firm’s priority investments next year will be startups in fintech, commerce and distribution channels, he said. It will also focus on capital-light B2B platforms and frictionless business models that show early potential for regional or global expansion. Kaya Founders is also looking at startups with embedded credit solutions and those building foundational fintech infrastructure, Mr. Campos said. The firm invested in 10 startups last year. Investment decisions are based on a startup’s capital efficiency, addressable market size, scalability and ability to build lean teams, he said. Founders are also expected to demonstrate strong founder–market fit, a clear path to profitability and regulatory awareness, particularly in fintech and other regulated sectors. Kaya Founders also evaluates realistic exit pathways and a startup’s capacity to form strategic partnerships with corporations, Mr. Campos said. “Ultimately, we back founders who combine ambition with discipline — building companies that can scale efficiently in today’s environment while positioning themselves for meaningful outcomes over the long term,” he added. Since its founding in 2021, Kaya Founders has increased its portfolio to about 40 startups across sectors including e-commerce, fintech, education, healthcare and software-as-a-service. The firm ended 2025 with the close of its $25-million (P1.5 billion) fund, which will be deployed to support Filipino and regional startups. The fund follows a two-part structure, consisting of Kaya Founders’ “Zero to One” pre-seed fund and its “One to Ten” seed-to-Series A fund, allowing the firm to support founders from the idea stage through early growth. Investors in the fund include local and international partners such as Singapore-based Pavilion Capital, Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Boston-based hedge fund Bracebridge Capital and Chicago-based Concentric Equity Partners. The Philippine startup ecosystem raised $1.12 billion in equity funding in 2024, up 16% from a year earlier, according to the Philippine Venture Capital report by Boston Consulting Group and Foxmont Capital Partners. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
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https://www.bworldonline.com/bw-launchpad/2026/01/07/722640/kaya-founders-to-invest-in-more-early-stage-startups-this-year/
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Business & Finance
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532af969ca8c5358daae497534ca6ae66882ff7632e3a8b76a9c2cb853d7a34a
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2026-01-06T16:01:35+00:00
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2025 inflation hits nine-year low at 1.7%
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HIGHER FOOD PRICES during the holiday season lifted inflation to 1.8% in December, although the full-year average eased to 1.7% — the slowest in nearly a decade, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday. Read the full story.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/infographics/2026/01/07/722685/2025-inflation-hits-nine-year-low-at-1-7/
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Business & Finance
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2bf0a142fd418bcf2a277427d093ccc5b9cb1728b24d042da687530cba843a1f
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2026-01-06T16:01:30+00:00
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Protecting brands in cyberspace and e-commerce transactions
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https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/07/722557/protecting-brands-in-cyberspace-and-e-commerce-transactions/
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Business & Finance
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57a34e3d673ed0e916600e492641c39a54a75327c4eb29090878125525929413
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2026-01-06T16:01:21+00:00
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Arts & Culture (01/07/26)
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1 of 4 Kundirana presents 2026’s maiden concert KUNDIRANA, the award-winning music ministry of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH), is set to hold its first concert for the year this week. Performances are scheduled for Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, with shows at 7 p.m. They will be held at the Br. Donato Center for Performing Arts at La Salle Green Hills, Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City. For ticket (P150) reservations, e-mail is.principal@lsgh.edu.ph. West Gallery opens 4 exhibits RUNNING from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7 at West Gallery are four new exhibits. There’s Breathe, Sigh… by Geraldine Javier; How the Frame Decides by Audrey Lukban; Manual for Making Space by Julieanne Ng; and Existence through allusions by Joanolasco. The gallery will also have on display selections from the Soler and Mona Santos Collection, which includes works by Elmer Borlongan, Roberto Chabet, and many others. NCCA celebrates art deco with 2026 calendar THE National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) continues its tradition of releasing an artistic calendar this year. This time, it commemorates 100 years of Art Deco in the Philippines, coinciding with the global celebration of the architectural style and highlighting its beauty and enduring impact on the country’s landscapes. Titled “A Century of Art Deco in the Philippines,” the calendar features 12 notable structures from around the country that demonstrate how Art Deco influenced civic buildings, educational institutions, residences, and cultural landmarks across the archipelago during the 20th century. The calendar was conceptualized and designed by journalist, filmmaker, and cultural researcher Roel Hoang Manipon. Kelli Maeshiro, Veronica Peralejo at MO_Space TWO EXHIBITIONS are running at MO_Space from Jan. 10 to Feb. 8. At the Main Gallery is Kelli Maeshiro’s Vast when you’d expect Insular, which explores liminal and negative space as sites of meaning, intimacy, and distance. It is rooted in the artist’s research on Japanese theories of perceived empty space, using the installation of repurposed everyday objects to treat the gallery as a relational volume between artist and viewer. At Gallery, 2, Veronica Peralejo’s The Poets and the Mundane marks a continuation of the artist’s clay modeling and assemblage practice. It conjures random shapes and textures, creating fundamentally familiar images and birthing repetitive variations that preserve faint memories of interesting things.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2026/01/07/722602/arts-culture-01-07-26/
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Business & Finance
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9634b94e7e378902e1f266b20127a864acd966e49c3ef8a348c66eff773752de
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2026-01-06T16:01:20+00:00
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PCC rules Robinsons–Premiumbikes deal poses no competition concerns
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THE PHILIPPINE COMPETITION COMMISSION (PCC) has cleared Robinsons Supermarket Corp.’s proposed acquisition of Premiumbikes Corp., saying the transaction is unlikely to harm competition. In a statement on Tuesday, the PCC said the deal would not result in a substantial lessening of competition in any of the relevant markets reviewed. It added that the merged entity would have limited ability or incentive to exercise market power, citing the parties’ relatively small market share and the presence of many competitors. Robinsons Supermarket is engaged in the wholesale and retail of general merchandise through brands such as Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Easymart, Shopwise, The Marketplace and Uncle John’s. Its do-it-yourself retail segment is operated by Robinsons Handyman, Inc. under Handyman Do It Best and True Value. Premiumbikes is involved in the wholesale and retail distribution of motorcycles, spare parts and accessories, operating 215 stores nationwide. It carries brands including Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Kymco and TVS. The PCC said its mergers and acquisitions office assessed markets in cities and municipalities where the parties operate, focusing on motorcycle accessories as well as oils and lubricants. The review drew on information from the companies and inputs from regulators, competitors and trade groups. In July, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc., through Robinsons Supermarket signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Premiumbikes from Lance Y. Gokongwei for P146.4 million, or P7.27 per share. Shares of Robinsons Retail rose 1.94% to P34.15 each on the Philippine Stock Exchange. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/07/722730/pcc-rules-robinsons-premiumbikes-deal-poses-no-competition-concerns/
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Business & Finance
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517b907aebcc5cc8084c1cc3262926109887a80e0836f9e2337300ab97387e98
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2026-01-07T07:24:15+00:00
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CNBC's UK Exchange newsletter: Is Britain back? Five things to watch for the U.K. in 2026
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From chancellor challenges to jobless-rate jitters, here are the key things to watch for the U.K. economy as the new year gets underway.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/cnbcs-uk-exchange-newsletter-is-britain-back-five-things-to-watch-for-the-uk-in-2026.html
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Business & Finance
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0bb0e52ba7b48c85cee2c15d08512bd286ea1d49d5c9eeda3aa26c3d5ba04e0d
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2026-01-07T08:47:18+00:00
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CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: What's next after a 10-year 'experiment' with U.S.-China competition
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For someone who's witnessed the ups and downs of U.S.-China tensions since the 1990s, AmCham China's new chair is strikingly optimistic about 2026.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/cnbcs-the-china-connection-newsletter-turning-point-for-us-china-ties-in-2026.html
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Business & Finance
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e0f2e783a6020df8a2bb325461b6a366d24fbafa75ebab325be96349e1a23787
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2026-01-05T09:44:20+00:00
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What investors are watching after Venezuela: Five signals that matter for markets
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Markets are weighing whether latest developments in Venezuela marks a turning point in how political power is priced into assets.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/05/what-market-signals-are-investors-watching-after-us-venezuela-strike.html
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Business & Finance
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96a09a6bfd99480c20baf1632351d2512f06d8fd4610bcf658245dd735933998
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2026-01-07T07:30:01+00:00
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CNBC Daily Open: Greenland could be next on Trump's list
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If Trump gives in to his desire to acquire Greenland, markets could react badly to the symbolic — and possible concrete — fracturing of the NATO partnership.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/cnbc-daily-open-greenland-could-be-next-on-trumps-list.html
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Business & Finance
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96eab383931f5281611c50bcfde8f04e16e0a32f97ddebaafe3893f915474c19
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2026-01-05T17:09:28+00:00
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Who controls Venezuela's oil now? What Maduro's arrest means for energy markets
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The arrest of Nicolás Maduro has thrown Venezuela's politically fraught oil industries back into focus.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/05/venezuela-oil-sour-crude-control-chevron-post-maduro-arrest.html
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Business & Finance
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a168d28ff066ed094716e2f4eb4e48eecc910896c3b8e270e1f4b1583c3e1834
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2026-01-07T03:49:16+00:00
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AI-generated content spreads after Maduro’s removal — blurring fact and fiction
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Doctored videos of crowds celebrating Maduro’s removal have racked up millions of views, highlighting rising risks of AI-driven misinformation.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/ai-generated-deepfake-videos-venezuelan-viral-us-military-maduro-misinformation.html
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Business & Finance
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7b77a1e2719785b92229784498ba57b43ff2ed23e5e9aad83718875a99af9308
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2026-01-07T06:02:41+00:00
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CNBC Daily Open: After Venezuela, rumblings of Greenland takeover from the White House
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If Trump gives in to his desire to acquire Greenland, markets could react badly to the symbolic — and possible concrete — fracturing of the NATO partnership.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/cnbc-daily-open-after-venezuela-rumblings-of-greenland-takeover-from-the-white-house.html
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Business & Finance
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51f098d127add79b8caf6d8c23fd0ddcd0a64f0ca2264bc34edb1838dd121f3b
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2026-01-06T18:03:04+00:00
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DeepSeek blew up markets a year ago. Why hasn't it done so since?
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Nearly a year on from the Chinese AI company shaking the tech world, CNBC digs into why DeepSeek's recent model releases haven't caused the same frenzy.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/why-deepseek-didnt-cause-an-investor-frenzy-again-in-2025.html
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Business & Finance
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b9864aa7552566d2013fabb589ab11ab2f8f1f9a005e84fdc4477e5c6e2914d7
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2026-01-06T14:36:58+00:00
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'Greenland belongs to its people': European leaders unite over Trump’s threats to annex territory
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European leaders on Tuesday issued a joint statement to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in Greenland.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/european-leaders-push-back-over-trumps-renewed-greenland-interest.html
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Business & Finance
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994ad0e43f616d9d8fb92241aa581c4825684b5da3cfcaa2e527e528281adf9b
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2026-01-06T11:28:12+00:00
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Europeans try to revive Ukraine war endgame as global focus shifts to Venezuela
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European officials are keen to revive the momentum seen in pre-Christmas talks between the U.S. and its Ukrainian and Russian counterparts.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/europe-tries-to-revive-ukraine-talks-as-focus-shifts-to-venezuela.html
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Business & Finance
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f4f8107eb7bbf3116093a002cbaee4256b895b5c5991bed49c4d8812e48c8f09
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2026-01-07T09:17:00+00:00
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If an investor put £500 a month in a Stocks and Shares ISA, here’s what they could have in 8 years
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Most investors like the concept of compounding profit over the long term. But it can be trickier to stick to a regular monthly investment plan. In reality, the two go hand in hand. Using a Stocks and Shares ISA and adopting a sensible strategy can enable someone to speed up the process. Here’s how. The benefit of using an ISA is that an investment portfolio can grow faster. Any dividends received aren’t subject to dividend tax, meaning the full amount can be enjoyed or reinvested. Further, when selling a growth stock for a profit, there’s no capital gains tax. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions. Of course, these advantages apply only if the portfolio is well-positioned. Therefore, the following key point is how to build a robust ISA. To do this, an investor needs to diversify their risk. This can be done in multiple ways. Risk needs to be spread across sectors, so that means owning companies from consumer staples through to tech. It also relates to geography, owning companies with exposure not just to the UK but around the world. Finally, not just putting all the money in a handful of names, but rather a broader portfolio, can act to reduce the concentration risk associated with one or two stocks. Now let’s talk about numbers. Putting away £500 a month isn’t going to work for everyone, but let’s assume this is the figure. I’m also going to assume an annual growth rate of 6% for the portfolio, which I believe is reasonable over the long term. By the end of year eight, the portfolio could be worth £62.2k. This is just a projection based on my assumptions. A higher or lower growth rate might be achieved in practice, which could give the investor a larger or smaller pot size. One stock I believe fits the bill is Blackrock World Mining Trust (LSE:BRWM), up 73% over the past year. Over a broader five-year time horizon, the stock’s up 58%, exceeding the annual 6% target gain. The investment trust buys mining and metals companies and is actively managed by BlackRock’s natural resources team. Among the current top 10 holdings are Glencore, Anglo American, and Rio Tinto. Given the commodity rally in 2025, the trust did very well. I think the move in precious metals will continue for the coming years. Base metals like copper and nickel are becoming increasingly valuable for industrialisation globally, as well as for the transition to cleaner energy products (like EVs). The exposure to gold is also significant. I think we’re in for another rocky year as far as geopolitics and macroeconomic uncertainty go. So owning stocks that directly benefit from rising gold prices (which people buy as a safe haven) should serve the trust well. In terms of risks, commodity stocks are known to be volatile. The movement in the trust price in the past has also been volatile. Therefore, investors need to be aware that they could experience large swings before committing. Yet despite this concern, I think it’s a good stock that could be considered for an ISA as part of a long-term growth strategy. The post If an investor put £500 a month in a Stocks and Shares ISA, here’s what they could have in 8 years appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if BlackRock World Mining Trust plc made the list? More reading Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended BlackRock. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/if-an-investor-put-500-a-month-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-heres-what-they-could-have-in-8-years/
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Business & Finance
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23f52c6ede7377ba0776ac3717535fd0c1f04356b954dc7587eaf2d00638035f
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2026-01-07T08:06:40+00:00
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£250K ISA: how much second income could you get monthly?
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If you’re looking to use an ISA to generate a second income, understanding how your savings grow over time is key. To reach a £250,000 ISA, the first step is knowing how much you need to contribute each year. Contributions typically increase gradually over time, reflecting realistic savings behaviour. The table below illustrates how you could reach your target under different return assumptions over a 20-year period. Hitting a £250,000 ISA total is an important milestone, but it’s only the starting point. What really matters is how much dependable second income that pot can generate in retirement. Assuming the ISA moves into drawdown and is invested more cautiously, I’ve modelled long-term returns at 4% a year. The chart below shows what happens when the portfolio is deliberately run down to zero at age 85. Chart generated by author Under these assumptions, the ISA can deliver an annual income of just over £10,000 – or around £833 a month. All figures are inflation-adjusted, so that income keeps its real spending power throughout retirement. Most investors, however, won’t want to spend their final pound. Building in a sensible safety margin of 10% to protect against market shocks, longer life expectancy or to leave an inheritance still supports a £750 monthly income – with around £57,000 left in the ISA pot at age 85. To achieve the higher return assumptions used in the contribution phase, long-term investors need exposure to businesses with recovery and re-rating potential. One FTSE 250 stock I think fits that bill is asset management giant Aberdeen (LSE: ABDN). Despite a strong rebound over the past year, the shares remain around two-thirds below their 2015 highs. That reflects well-documented challenges facing traditional active asset managers, particularly sustained outflows from the group’s Adviser division. However, the market may be overlooking how much has already changed beneath the surface – and why the risk-reward balance now looks more attractive for patient investors. The group’s interactive investor — or ii — platform has become a genuine growth engine. Customer numbers, trading activity and assets under administration continue to rise, driven by demand for self-directed investing and SIPPs. With its flat-fee pricing model and growing brand recognition, ii is steadily emerging as a credible challenger in the direct-to-consumer market. Crucially, this business benefits from operating leverage – incremental growth should increasingly feed through to profits. The long-running drag from the Adviser division is also easing. Net outflows have fallen sharply year on year, helped by more competitive pricing and sustained investment in service quality. While this business may not return to strong growth in the short term, stabilisation alone could materially improve group cash generation. Even so, risks remain. A renewed market sell-off could prompt independent financial advisers to move clients out of Aberdeen’s funds, and further outflows could delay any re-rating. Shares are best held as part of a diversified ISA during the growth phase, rather than relied on for income alone. From an accumulation perspective, Aberdeen illustrates how a recovery story with built-in yield can work in practice. The shares currently yield around 7%, which could be reinvested to enhance long-term growth – showing how considering an ISA holding like this could contribute to a steady second income over time. The post £250K ISA: how much second income could you get monthly? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if aberdeen group made the list? More reading Andrew Mackie owns shares in Aberdeen. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/250k-isa-how-much-second-income-could-you-get-monthly/
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Business & Finance
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2ac6e7733c610c7ce57d3bbfd338780075af8b5d50c9710d5180aa68b88d6fac
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2026-01-07T07:35:00+00:00
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3 reasons to fear a stock market crash in 2026 — and how to prepare
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Despite a challenging economic climate, 2025 was a bumper year for the UK stock market. Gaining 21.6%, the FTSE 100 not only had its best year since 2009 but also outperformed the S&P 500. And then, just as the year ticked over, it briefly clicked above 10,000 points for the first time in history. So all round, a fairly stellar performance from the UK’s leading blue-chip index. But before you pop open the Champagne, let’s examine three structural risks that threaten to shake things up in 2026. Smart investors know that market records are often set just before the music stops. If you’re a middle-aged investor building a retirement portfolio, now’s not the time to be complacent. While the headlines celebrate record highs, storm clouds are gathering over the global economy. Here’s three reasons why a stock market crash could be on the cards in 2026 — and how to plan a recession-resistant portfolio. USD weakness. The US dollar suffered its sharpest annual drop in eight years during 2025, and analysts forecast continued weakness through the first half of 2026. This matters for UK investors because the FTSE 100 derives a significant portion of its earnings from overseas, mostly in dollars. When the dollar weakens, those earnings are worth less when converted back into pounds. Fragmented markets. The era of global stability’s over. Strategists warn that 2026 will be defined by a “fragmented global order“. We are seeing elevated risks of conflict not just in Ukraine and the Middle East, but potentially spreading to Venezuela and intensifying in East Asia. ‘Bubble’ fears. In a recent poll, 33% of institutional investors cited a stock market bubble as the single biggest risk for 2026. With US tech valuations still sky high, any disappointment in earnings could trigger a global sell-off that would inevitably hurt UK markets. In 2026, my strategy is to shift from ‘growth at any cost’ to ‘quality and reliability’. Essentially, favouring companies that sell the type of essential products that people buy whether the economy’s booming or crashing. Usually, these are the type of ‘boring’ everyday companies that quietly keep the world turning. Take Tesco (LSE: TSCO), for example. The high street stalwart commands a massive 28% share of the UK grocery market, giving it immense power to negotiate better prices with suppliers and protecting its margins even if inflation ticks up again. It has broad market appeal: while its Finest range captures wealthier shoppers, its Aldi-matched pricing retains budget-conscious ones. This ‘all-weather’ appeal makes it far less volatile than the wider stock market. Dividends are forecast to rise by 4% this fiscal year to 14.2p per share, with a further 10% jump expected next year. While it doesn’t have the highest yield on the market (3.5%), it’s reliable and well-covered by earnings. For risk-averse income investors aiming to safeguard their portfolio in 2026, I think defensive income stocks like Tesco are well worth considering. Not that it’s entirely immune to risk – lower-cost rivals like Lidl and Asda are a constant threat to its market share, forcing price cuts and thinning its margins/profits. That’s why no one stock should be picked alone. Fortunately, the FTSE 100 is jam packed with companies that offer similar defensive qualities and attractive yields. The post 3 reasons to fear a stock market crash in 2026 — and how to prepare appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Tesco PLC made the list? More reading Mark Hartley has positions in Tesco Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tesco Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/3-reasons-to-fear-a-stock-market-crash-in-2026-and-how-to-prepare/
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Business & Finance
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b9ce62ca252463c160067f61692b7ecdf51bbcb03b6fa30cb89ebb24eba1eb46
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2026-01-07T07:17:00+00:00
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US vs UK stocks: why 2026 is the year to lock in British value
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For much of the last decade, American tech has overshadowed UK stocks when it comes to investing. But as we enter 2026, the tables are turning. While the S&P 500 continues to trade at eye-watering valuations, the UK market looks like the world’s last great bargain. British stocks are currently trading at historic discounts, with FTSE 100 prices averaging a modest 15-18 times earnings. For UK investors planning for retirement, this ‘valuation gap’ presents a rare opportunity. It allows investors to buy quality stocks for 50%-60% below fair value, providing a critical ‘margin of safety’ for a retirement portfolio. If the US tech bubble deflates in 2026, these undervalued UK assets are far better positioned to weather the storm. Here are two prime examples of British value hiding in plain sight. You don’t need to be a billionaire to own high-growth private companies. 3i Group (LSE: III) is a FTSE 100 giant that effectively acts as a private equity fund you can buy in your ISA. With a share price that’s up over 1,180% in the last decade, it doesn’t look like a value stock. But due to a recent profit warning, it’s currently trading at 61% below fair value, based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. The company’s core holding is Action, the Dutch discount retailer aggressively expanding throughout Europe. It’s growing at an impressive rate but because it’s not publicly listed, it’s easy to underestimate its true value. 3i’s stake alone is valued at over £21bn. But its heavy concentration in Action is also a risk, as its success relies largely on this one holding. If budget-friendly rivals muscle in on Action’s market share, 3i’s profits could take a hit. JD Sports (LSE: JD.) has seen its share price punished recently due to weakness at its key supplier, Nike. This short-term fear has created a long-term buying opportunity, with the stock currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 7.2. For a company with global dominance and long-term growth runways in the US and Europe, this is ‘bargain basement’ pricing. Unfortunately, the setback has ramped up debt and whittled away at cash reserves, leaving it exposed to financial risk if earnings don’t improve. While I’m confident it’ll recover, it’s still an issue that needs attention. Yet despite the recent struggles, a turnaround already appears underway. As Nike’s inventory issue cleared up, JD stock looks primed for a significant recovery. Fortunately, it isn’t just relying on Nike. An aggressive expansion strategy in the US means it’s diversifying revenues away from the UK high street. Market consensus reveals significant growth expectations, with average 12-month price targets of 116p, around 36% above today’s price. This implies the stock may be severely oversold at current levels around 85p. In 2026, investors have a choice: pay premium prices for overvalued, speculative US growth stocks – or look closer to home. By considering undervalued UK leaders like 3i Group and JD Sports, investors could gain exposure to quality companies at a price that offers above-average growth potential. The post US vs UK stocks: why 2026 is the year to lock in British value appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if 3i Group plc made the list? More reading Mark Hartley has positions in 3i Group Plc and JD Sports Fashion. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/us-vs-uk-stocks-why-2026-is-the-year-to-lock-in-british-value/
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Business & Finance
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948504c0e4290ca08835288c9528e963d594bc527b50af441b81c722ae1c82f6
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2026-01-07T07:04:00+00:00
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ChatGPT thinks these FTSE 100 stocks will CRASH in 2026
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The FTSE 100 can’t stop rising. But that doesn’t mean some of our biggest companies won’t endure a nightmare 2026. The question is, which are most likely to tank in value? For a giggle, I posed this to ChatGPT. And it’s reply was… ahem… interesting. In the matter of a few seconds, the AI bot came up with four top-tier stocks that look vulnerable to crashing this year. For NatWest Group, it spoke of the recent spike in the bank’s valuation and the possibility of a downturn in the UK economy as potential risks. The bot then highlighted ongoing regulatory pressures for British American Tobacco and the decline in sales of traditional cigarettes. As far as Fresnillo was concerned, it talked about the possibility of precious metal prices sharply retracing after a terrific 2025. So far, so ‘meh’. None of the above is exactly revelatory. The fact that ChatGPT selected Next, however, made me chuckle. Its timing couldn’t have been worse. On the same day that I ran my question by the AI bot (6 January), the company released its latest trading update. And the market lapped it up! Famed for under-promising and over-delivering, the £17bn-cap duly announced a better-than-expected 10.6% rise in full-price sales for the nine weeks to 27 December. Put another way, Next had a far better Christmas than analysts were expecting. As a result, guidance on full-year pre-tax profit was raised (again) to £1.15bn. Now, this doesn’t mean Next shares won’t crash in the months ahead. It’s probably true that a lot of good news looks baked in. Even before yesterday’s update, the stock changed hands at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19 following a stonking gain in 2025. A dip in UK consumer spending could prompt some investors to bank profits and move on. And all bets are probably off if there’s some kind of significant geopolitical development that markets really don’t like. Of course, an AI bot doesn’t know any better than us when it comes to predicting which stocks will thrive, bomb or trade sideways. Correctly predicting share price movements to any degree of precision in the near term is incredibly hard. And doing that consistently? Well, that’s pretty much impossible. To be fair, ChatGPT did say that it can’t predict which stocks will crash, only where risk is concentrated. The problem is that it then proceeded to pick out four very different businesses! Unhelpful. And this is exactly why we’re long-term investors at Fool UK. We’re not trying to second-guess imminent market moves or make a killing before lunch, We’re obsessed with growing our money slowly but surely over years and decades. That’s done through careful analysis and awareness of individual financial goals and tolerance, not AI. So while it’ll be fascinating to see whether — by sheer luck — the bot comes up trumps by the end of 2026, I’m not going to take it any further than that. But I am keeping some powder dry for when bargains do appear. Actually, I think a few already have! The post ChatGPT thinks these FTSE 100 stocks will CRASH in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Next Plc made the list? More reading Paul Summers has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. and Fresnillo Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/chatgpt-thinks-these-ftse-100-stocks-will-crash-in-2026/
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Business & Finance
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6d897895e12838166d426bf40d9fe5ef457bc328cbb8f1e5ce8692b3240703f6
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2026-01-07T06:56:00+00:00
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£10,000 invested in Tesco shares 3 months ago is now worth…
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Tesco (LSE:TSCO) shares are up 97% over three years, 50% over two years, and 18% over one. However, some of that momentum has stalled in recent months. In fact, the stock’s now down 2.2% over three months. That’s not a big deal, but a £10,000 investment made three months ago would now be worth less than £9,800. However, the investor would have just qualified for the interim dividend at 4.8p per share. That’s a dividend yield just a little over 1% — £100 in this case. Clearly, the total return isn’t great, but it’s nothing to worry about. Us Fools typically invest with time horizons measured in years, not months, and short-term share price movements rarely tell us much about the underlying health of a business. I’m a big fan of Tesco, as a stock rather than a supermarket. In fact, I’ve regularly noted how I thought the stock was worth considering over the past few years, but I never added it to my portfolio that’s been more focused on other sectors with stronger secular and structural drivers. However, I recently suggested the company’s bull run was coming to an end. And I stand by that. The reason is the valuation. It’s trading around 15.6 times forward earnings (FY2026). That might not sound like a lot, but it’s certainly not as cheap as it once was and I believe the operating environment’s as tricky as ever. On a rolling one-year basis — 12 months from now (which includes FY2026 and FY2027) — it’s trading around 14.1 times forward earnings. That’s more expensive than both Marks & Spencer (10.4 times) and J Sainsbury (12.8 times). The other peers are also growing earnings at a faster pace. There’s plenty of nuance here. These companies have different business models and varying degrees of exposures to ancillary sectors such as clothing. One thing that’s undeniable is that Tesco deserves to trade at a premium to its peers — on a growth-adjusted basis, of course. Why’s that? Simply, its size. With 28.3% of the grocery market, it has huge economies of scale, allowing it achieve stronger margin and cut prices when peers become aggressive. That’s exactly what has happened in recent years. Aldi and Lidl took market share off incumbents like Morrisons, but Tesco remained firm. It’s miles ahead of its peers. That’s counts for a lot. However, I believe the current valuation discrepancy suggests Tesco shares won’t go much higher in the near term. Any appreciation will have to be driven by earnings surprises, and not re-ratings. It’s still worth considering, but I believe there are better options out there for 2026. The post £10,000 invested in Tesco shares 3 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Tesco PLC made the list? More reading James Fox has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended J Sainsbury Plc and Tesco Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/10000-invested-in-tesco-shares-3-months-ago-is-now-worth-2/
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Business & Finance
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abcccd2f066677f01239073edd41737defd60d935a352786ed4c67c29956e270
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2026-01-07T06:51:00+00:00
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£10,000 invested in NatWest shares 3 months ago is now worth…
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NatWest (LSE:NWG) shares are up 198% over two years and 63% over 12 months. This is quite incredible, but we’ve seen some similar movements from other UK banks over the past three years as investors went from worrying about impairment charges to buoyant confidence in rising interest rates and improving economic conditions. The shift reflects a broader reassessment of bank profitability, with net interest margins remaining strong and bad debt provisions proving less severe than feared. This growth’s carried through to the past few months. The stock’s up 24.6% over the period. Thus, £10,000 invested then would be worth £12,460 today. Sadly, no dividends would have been received during the period. However, it’s still one impressive return for just a few months. NatWest trades on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of 10.4 times for 2025 and 9.3 times for 2026. This is essentially double the figures we were looking at during the Silicon Valley Bank fiasco of 2023 — not that NatWest was ever materially impacted by the fiasco. Normalised earnings per share is forecast at 63.5p in 2025 and 71p in 2026, implying growth of 16.6% in 2025 and 11.8% in 2026. That’s still very strong and in most cases would more than justify the P/E ratio. However, we know that banks are cyclical and these growth figures shouldn’t be maintained through the long run. Periods of strong profitability are typically followed by more subdued phases as economic conditions, credit demand and interest rate environments evolve. Looking forward, the dividend yield sits at 4.8%, rising to 5.3% based on forecasts. This is supported by strong dividend coverage — just over two times. Compared to the FTSE 100 average, NatWest offers an attractive combination of yield, growth, and strong capital metrics. However, we need to compare apples with apples. Blue-chip banks are roughly trading in line with each other, and they’re all doing well. To push higher still, I believe the banks need to demonstrate even greater levels of profitability, above current expectations. I don’t believe there’s much cause for a re-rating. This refers to a change in the valuation multiple the market’s willing to pay for a company’s earnings or assets, rather than growth in the earnings themselves. In the case of banks, re-ratings are relatively rare and usually short-lived. Valuations tend to be anchored by cyclical earnings, regulatory constraints and the risk of credit losses. Momentum’s important and it can certainly carry a stock higher. That could continue to happen here. However, I believe the current earnings outlook is nearly priced in. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good stock to look at for the long run. In my view, it’s still worth considering. But the fast-paced growth of the past few years may soon be over. The post £10,000 invested in NatWest shares 3 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if NatWest Group made the list? More reading James Fox has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/10000-invested-in-natwest-shares-3-months-ago-is-now-worth/
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Business & Finance
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8c3f336e8440493e3f1cdc9d002df87c511f260f67c983857b875ffff76344fc
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2026-01-07T06:35:02+00:00
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Here’s the number-1 stock in my ISA and SIPP
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I did a fair bit of buying and selling towards the end of 2025 to reposition my Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and Stocks and Shares ISA portfolios. Consequently, a new stock has become my largest holding after jumping 12% since Monday (5 January). Here, I’ll explain why I’m happy for it to occupy the top spot as we start 2026. The stock in question is MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:MELI). This is Latin America’s largest company by market-cap, though it’s listed in the US on the Nasdaq. So why Latin America? Well, the region has roughly 650m people. This makes it a larger population than the European Union (about 450m) and almost twice the size of the US (340m). Meanwhile, the nominal GDP of the region is currently estimated at around $7.3trn. To put that in context, if Latin America was a single country, it would be the world’s third largest economy behind the US and China. MercadoLibre operates the region’s leading e-commerce, FinTech, and digital advertisement businesses across 20 countries. E-commerce in Latin America is still in its infancy, with around 12%-15% of shopping done online versus roughly 30% in the UK. Meanwhile, around 70% of Latin America’s population is considered either unbanked or underbanked. As such, financial services there also have an incredibly long runway of growth ahead (likely decades). The firm’s FinTech platform (Mercado Pago) now has 72m+ users, giving it insights into the spending habits of its customers. This data is a key competitive advantage over rivals. Finally, the company’s already the region’s third-largest digital advertising player behind Meta and Google. However, ad revenue as a percentage of the firm’s marketplace gross merchandise value (GMV) is still only about 2% today. Amazon‘s is far higher. As such, management sees a blue-ocean opportunity to become a much larger advertising platform, which bodes well for the company’s long-term profitability (digital ads have very high margins). Speaking of which, this is another reason why I’m bullish here. MercadoLibre is now firmly profitable, with earnings per share expected to grow at roughly 40% in both 2026 and 2027. Based on current forecasts, the forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple for 2026 is around 36, falling to 26 by next year. For a tech company that’s grown revenue above 30% for 27 consecutive quarters (and is still optimising for scale rather than profits), I see this as an attractive valuation. I think other growth-oriented investors could consider buying the stock. That said, it would be naïve not to acknowledge the risks here. So what am I keeping an eye on? Rising e-commerce competition is one thing, especially from Asia’s Shopee, which has parked its tanks on MercadoLibre’s lawn in Brazil (its largest market). I still think MercadoLibre will maintain its advantage due to its ts deep regional knowledge and sprawling logistics network, which allows much faster parcel deliveries. But it’s certainly something to watch, as it could lead to a margin-bruising price war. Also, the firm has a ballooning consumer credit portfolio, which now includes credit cards, so I’ll be monitoring non-performing loan figures moving forward. Finally, I’m visiting Brazil and Mexico later this year. While I’m there, I’ll test the MercadoLibre user experience and do further research. The post Here’s the number-1 stock in my ISA and SIPP appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if MercadoLibre made the list? More reading Ben McPoland has positions in MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and MercadoLibre. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/07/heres-the-number-1-stock-in-my-isa-and-sipp/
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Business & Finance
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5729392e81d94612a1114baf937f3c134df46b2939b1cb1bd766e029f1d877da
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2026-01-06T19:30:00+00:00
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Will the Greggs share price jump or slump on 8 January?
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The past year has been great for UK shares and the FTSE 100 index in particular. The Footsie is up 22.6% over the past 12 months, excluding cash dividends. That’s its best gain since 2021, when share prices roared back as the Covid-19 pandemic receded. Indeed, many of my family portfolio’s UK stocks are hitting record highs, with the notable exception of the Greggs (LSE: GRG) share price, which had a truly terrible 2025. However, I’m hopeful that this well-known FTSE 250 share will have a better 2026. At first, Greggs shares started last year strongly, peaking at 2,890p on 8 January 2025 after reporting encouraging trading results. Alas, the share price has been sliding pretty much ever since. Indeed, by 24 November, the shares had halved in value. Yikes. On 25 November, I suggested that shares in the high-street bakery chain had fallen too far and seemed a bargain to me. And since their November low of 1,407.2p, they have soared. As I write, the Greggs share price stands at 1,733p, valuing this Newcastle-based firm at £1.8bn. That’s up almost a quarter (23.2%) since they bottomed out. This gives me hope that I can still spot a bargain business when I see one. For the record, my family portfolio bought Greggs shares last July, paying 1,683p a share for our stake. To date, we are sitting on a tiny paper gain of 50p a share — up 3% — but I have high hopes for our future returns. At current price levels, Greggs stock still seems undervalued to me. The shares trade on a modest multiple of 12.3 trailing earnings, delivering an earnings yield above 8.1% a year. Also, their dividend yield of 4% beats the FTSE 100 and most other shares listed in London. Even better, this payout looks solid, being covered more than twice by historic earnings. That said, Greggs endured tough trading conditions in 2025. As well as lower sales growth, margins were hit by higher costs — including increased employer National Insurance contributions. And despite price rises, revenues, earnings, and cash flow all suffered. Despite its heightened volatility in 2025, the Greggs share is actually up 2.1% over the last six months. Nevertheless, the shares might see sharp price swings on Thursday, 8 January. That’s the day the group releases the trading update for the final quarter of 2025. Of course, if these numbers look good and beat market expectations, then I’d expect the share price to jump. But if they prove to be a damp squib, then the shares could slump. Right now, only insiders have this knowledge — the rest of us have to sit tight until 7am on Thursday. Finally, it remains to be seen whether Greggs shares are a fallen angel (a good company temporarily suffering) or a falling knife (a share that continues to fall). However, no matter what happens on 8 January, I suspect we will hold onto our shares until this fog clears! What other shares are making big moves in the market right now? The post Will the Greggs share price jump or slump on 8 January? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Greggs plc made the list? More reading The Motley Fool UK has recommended Greggs. Cliff D’Arcy has an economic interest in Greggs shares. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services, such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool, we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/06/will-the-greggs-share-price-jump-or-slump-on-8-january/
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Business & Finance
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b1a4e2fe2878f66a3c69bdf578f9c43d468dce6bb3cf458fe9fabcc9b5e017a4
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2026-01-06T17:33:42+00:00
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Could drip-feeding £500 a month into the FTSE 100 make someone a millionaire?
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The tortoise and the hare both have a role to play when it comes to the stock market. Some commentators focus on the seemingly-exciting hares of top growth stocks. But the FTSE 100 index of leading British businesses has more tortoises, those long-established and fairly slow-growing businesses. Still, for someone who takes a long-term approach to investing, that could still present a significant opportunity to build wealth over time. That is because such an approach can benefit from a trio of helpful factors. The first is regular contributions. Putting a certain amount of money into an investment vehicle on a consistent basis can add up over time. The second helpful factor is what is known as compounding. That is when earned money starts to earn more money. For example, someone might use dividends to buy more shares that, in turn, can earn even more dividends – and so on… Capital gains can also help compounding. A third factor is buying strongly-performing shares. That is an art not a science. But if a portfolio puts in a decent performance each year on average, over the long term that helps returns. So the FTSE 100 may not be the raciest part of the stock market, but its focus on large and often well-established businesses means that, over the long run, I expect it to perform decently. For example, over the past couple of decades, the FTSE 100 has produced an average total annual return (including dividends and capital gains, offset by capital losses) of around 6.3%. After putting in £500 a month that compounds at 6.3% annually, the portfolio would be worth over £1m in 50 years. But 50 years is a long time to wait to aim for a million, I realise. So a bigger contribution could speed things up. Over time, fees, costs, commissions and tax could eat up a lot of gains. So it pays to take time to compare different share-dealing platforms, including share dealing accounts, Stocks and Shares ISAs and trading apps. The investor could then simply ‘buy the index’, by investing in a tracker fund. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to what will happen next, but I do think a 6%+ annualised return from the FTSE 100 in decades to come is a realistic expectation. But an investor could try to do better by putting together a portfolio of some carefully-chosen FTSE 100 shares. For example, one FTSE 100 share I think investors should consider is Bunzl (LSE: BNZL). The janitorial and food service supplies company has had a tough time with its share price declining 18% over five years. The City has not warmed to Bunzl’s fairly downbeat outlook for 2026. As a long-term investor, though, I continue to think the company has strong growth opportunities in years to come. That reflects risks such as inflation eating into profit margins and tariffs pushing up the price of imported goods. These are still risks. But the company has a proven long-term business model, growing through many acquisitions in a market that remains highly fragmented. Demand for catering items like boxes and serviettes is robust. I think Bunzl’s future remains promising. The post Could drip-feeding £500 a month into the FTSE 100 make someone a millionaire? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Bunzl plc made the list? More reading C Ruane has positions in Bunzl Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Bunzl Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/06/could-drip-feeding-500-a-month-into-the-ftse-100-make-someone-a-millionaire/
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Business & Finance
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c9c9c7b514870a81839b93de7528640eda27942fca1e699c2b4b7ecf2858b495
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2026-01-07T04:06:51+00:00
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Chris Mason: UK grapples with new era of US unpredictability
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This week has seen two case studies in how Europe is trying to bind the US into its future, writes the BBC's political editor.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqyleye482o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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100a61f42667ca40f85397a6147bb0fb2fd86b42066cb49ea583d903b42d9900
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2026-01-06T23:29:03+00:00
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Assisted dying campaigners request extra time for peers to scrutinise bill
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Concern is growing among supporters the bill won't pass parliamentary hurdles in the allotted days.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkrexrk0xzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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f67178046ef187566709e888d7a5d8686b823d2eef6276f902d4acbc5c2e8342
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2026-01-07T01:48:55+00:00
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Poor decisions in extending prison lease, MPs say
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A committee report says "poor commercial decisions" were made when the lease was signed.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyg172908vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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3ca55b24eb31bda7b9c5c86225f2d6d4cd863b9d83bb6c7d30e52037c2c001e3
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2026-01-06T22:30:55+00:00
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UK and France to send troops to Ukraine if peace deal agreed
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The announcement was made by UK PM Sir Keir Starmer after a meeting of Ukraine's allies in Paris.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17zee20qpzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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84640c33f074231d49a73c80d88f17151b0318bf38a38f8fb6213c909f3c95d5
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2026-01-07T08:57:47+00:00
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Council 'disappointed' after union jack flag defaced
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Nottinghamshire County Council has spent £75,000 installing new flags in 82 locations.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8py50e4mdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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fd0da83a2fe3bddb1e83c848217536cf94d249a3aa901721f077f72ebabf29d3
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2026-01-07T06:35:35+00:00
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Widow says her life can't go back to normal until brain tumour treatment changed
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Ellie James said her husband wasn't told freezing more of his brain tumour tissue could be used for a vaccine before he died.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7jgrzee3vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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2aa483b098404087d1413f89d6da36c01bf09a6278b910ce95737c3c467a7a32
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2026-01-06T16:40:05+00:00
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Target 'divisive' Reform in 2026, Keir Starmer tells ministers
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The PM says Labour needs to contrast its "renewal" of the country with Reform's "grievance and division".
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c150z39e705o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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a6c0dd7e5a2c7b5b765945d35a15d0d43c205ca2ef63001bdcfa152a3be7d992
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2026-01-06T11:36:15+00:00
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US action in Venezuela morally right, Badenoch says
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The Conservative leader tells the BBC the military operation raises "serious questions about the rules-based order".
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnxdpv2p9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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fb50fe00c71694f3bc782398f35d101179ee6a6894c75ee25d961d5cd0cd532c
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2026-01-06T17:01:46+00:00
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Government demands Musk's X deals with 'appalling' Grok AI deepfakes
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Grok is being used to digitally remove women's clothing - something victims describe as "dehumanising".
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrn054nxe7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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9ac3c4cdf10a23c020d0653306e82ab9b7001901d771952b4fb4e489413645c5
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2026-01-06T16:16:05+00:00
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Justice secretary found to have breached ministerial code
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Angela Constance was given a written reprimand following a row over her comments about grooming gangs expert.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rm5l3y3m6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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81513f30eeecd5fc74d37c76b8524c43ace942476452b4a30d991ef0fa2a3137
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2026-01-05T22:11:28+00:00
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Cooper reminds US of international legal obligations in Venezuela
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has so far avoided condemning US military action in the Latin American state.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79r1r0y9exo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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1290df7e0b9c77f93f5a927e77399b0f7f8bbbfba730b080d54813d6aca1e518
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2026-01-06T09:08:48+00:00
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Manchester Arena families say MI5 must be fully included in new law on cover-ups
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The law follows campaigning by families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that claimed 97 lives.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkr0r6lrdjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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0d689c4504a74259a5e6832bbbbc0c3be857827db19b20e501f49d65c96c773d
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2026-01-05T16:53:36+00:00
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Only Greenland and Denmark should decide its future, Starmer says
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It comes after President Trump again said "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9yq8znq37o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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3c05d2837b476929d4f4665cfdab336f3323ad8c2ef5c8ca37e390b477e07b78
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2026-01-05T16:52:03+00:00
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US action in Venezuela not legal, senior Labour MP says
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UK must make clear US operation is unacceptable, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry says.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyr3q3xlqzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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7c127bc26c3c6eacc68be205b7af269800ff8ccb9e0bc2ba60f7567a008d173f
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2026-01-05T14:15:13+00:00
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Scottish party leaders set out stalls ahead of election
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John Swinney, Anas Sarwar and Russell Findlay have made their pitches for May's Holyrood vote.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c931g99rkgvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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1c882366847c066c90cae8dc85f7edbe2686c736c4299d980130fec93e0c26db
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2026-01-04T14:11:06+00:00
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Five things we learned from Senedd election debate
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Political parties take part in a New Year debate ahead of May's Welsh Senedd election.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qplzywj25o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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1842da6d0b29bd1b6ea132a3d7a75db7b65acebe8a33e9bdb5e941cdb4e7629b
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2026-01-05T07:54:38+00:00
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New powers to seize phones from migrants come into force
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The government says it will help gather intelligence on smuggling gangs.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm240jvnen0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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de1594a2d2c8c3f30669907114bdc1ad16d45da63212c7e8b786cc8a40cc8b3a
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2026-01-04T15:46:00+00:00
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PM ready for closer EU alignment 'in the national interest'
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It is the clearest indication yet the PM wants to pursue a closer relationship with Europe in a broader number of areas.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn56wdlw094o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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8d487d59b00695c4e1c8f1856ff3c68ec8e0b0d4adb95773cc469d7d5f696a77
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2026-01-04T12:13:08+00:00
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Starmer regrets welcoming British-Egyptian activist to UK after 'abhorrent' posts came to light
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The PM tells Laura Kuenssberg he "should have been made aware" of Alaa Abd El Fattah's social media history.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpelnlxzyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
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World & Politics
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134091bf280054100daca70357db5784b97f2ca6e6cea71bfb2d75ed9a978048
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2026-01-04T11:17:51+00:00
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Starmer tells me he'll survive - but can he keep this new year's resolution?
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The prime minister discusses the economy, Europe, Venezuela and his own future in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg.
|
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1lv92xrxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
|
World & Politics
| |
17d6998476955eeeab632f13740f515258cb4297aed7dbff36ec924f2896f9b2
|
2026-01-04T00:01:15+00:00
|
Will 2026 be the year MPs and peers agree on how to repair Parliament?
|
Parliamentarians will shortly have to decide if they should leave their building to allow for billions of pounds of maintenance work to take place.
|
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yqlpx4gp3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
|
World & Politics
| |
d2f04d8b5dfe61732d071be4f6dba5b6afe8b6b2850b0adafaace0ff62fb7af5
|
2026-01-05T07:18:41+00:00
|
What's behind PM's notable shift on closer ties to Europe?
|
Sir Keir Starmer has given details of his plans for a "Brexit reset". What could it mean for the UK?
|
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62vzmle530o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
|
World & Politics
|
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