PHILIPPINES: Second Quarter GDP Beats Estimates

Aug-07 02:18
  • The Philippines’ GDP growth for Q2 grew  5.5% year on year in 2Q25, from 5.4% in the first quarter and ahead of forecasts.
  • Domestic consumption has seen mixed signals with imports contracting, overseas cash remittances moderating whilst unemployment has fallen.  
  • PMI manufacturing bottomed out just prior to the tariff announcements in April, with the accompanying bounce in April and since has seen positive trends emerging.  Exports have had one of their strongest six months in several years, underpinning hopes for a pick up in growth.   
  • The quarter on quarter trend is up also with Q2 rising to +1.5%, from 1.2% in Q1 and topping forecasts of +1.3%.  
  • The second quarter result still sees growth below the revised government target of 5.5% - 6% (from 6 - 8%) but the improvements will be encouraging.  The BSP starting cutting rates ahead of regional peers last year and have reduced the base rate from 6.50% to 5.25%.  They next meet on August 28 and have cut at their last two meetings.  
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Historical bullets

CHINA PRESS: China Stock Market To Release New Indexs For Innovative Firms

Jul-08 02:18

The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges will release new indexes to reflect the performance of specialised and innovative enterprises as defined by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and help guide funds to these SMEs, Securities Times reported. The indexes will be released on July 21, the newspaper said.

CHINA PRESS: China To Promote Construction of High-Power Charging Facilities

Jul-08 02:18

Provincial governments need forward planning to address the development goals and construction tasks of high-power charging facilities for electric vehicles, according to a document by the National Development and Reform Commission. Authorities should first transform charging facilities with a utilisation rate exceeding 40% during major holidays into high-power units and aim to have more than 100,000 high-power charging facilities nationwide by the end of 2027, the document said. (Source: 21st Century Business Herald)

CHINA PRESS: China's Role As Mature Net Creditor Nation Increasing

Jul-08 02:18

China’s reserve assets accounted for just 33.0% of its external financial assets by the end of Q1 2025, the lowest on record, according to Guan Tao, former senior official at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). Down from an historic high of 71% in Q2 2011, the decline reflects over a decade of two-way financial opening and a rising private-sector role in overseas asset allocation. If this momentum continues, 2025 could mark China’s emergence as a mature net creditor nation. However, policymakers must stay alert to risks from a sharper-than-expected drop in the trade surplus or heightened Yuan volatility.