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malaya Business Insight - March 03, 2026

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malaya Business Insight Description:

Publisher: People's-Independent-Media

Category: Newspaper

Language: English

Frequency: Daily

Malaya Business Insight comes to you in a very readable package: A fusion of in-depth news, excellent news analyses, the credible prognosis of events, powerful commentaries and balanced updates on what is happening and about to happen in corporate board rooms, in the diverse business and industry sectors, in Philippine regional and global politics and in the exciting world of sports, arts, entertainment, and lifestyle.

In this issue

March 03, 2026

MANUFACTURING PMI SIGNALS SHARP PH FEB FACTORY REBOUND - S&P Global

PHILIPPINE factories posted their strongest output growth in more than eight years in February, pushing the S&P Global's Manufacturing PMI up to 54.6 from 52.9 in January on sharp increases in production and orders.

2 mins

P3/liter fuel price hike possible as oil shipping risk grows – DOE

FUEL pump prices could rise by as much as P3 per liter next week as Middle East tensions raise risks to oil shipments, the Department of Energy (DOE) warned on Monday.

3 mins

BTr fully awards P27B T-bills as demand remains

THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) fully awarded the programmed amount for Treasury bills at Monday’s auction, raising P27 billion amid strong investor demand.

1 mins

STOCKS: PSEi plunges 2.79% as MidEast conflict sparks sell-off

SHARE prices tumbled on Monday as escalating conflict in the Middle East and a peso dip against the dollar triggered a broad selloff, dragging the PSEi down 2.79 percent at the close of trade.

1 mins

PCC raises merger notification thresholds to P9.1B and P3.8B

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said effective this month, mergers and acquisitions will be subject to mandatory notification and review if a transacting party has group assets exceeding P9.1 billion or generates at least that much in consolidated annual revenues.

1 mins

INVESTORS BRACE FOR A BIGGER BACKLASH FROM MIDEAST WAR

From being just a fringe risk, conflict in the Middle East has become a top worry for investors unsettled by the prospect of a power struggle in Iran and a protracted regional war, with ramifications for everything from global trade to inflation.

2 mins

Russian manufacturing sector contracts at slower pace in Feb – PMI

Russia's manufacturing sector continued to contract in February, but the pace of decline eased for the second consecutive month as new orders stabilised, S&P Global reported on Monday.

1 mins

China's factory activity set to shrink for second month, hit by depressed demand

China’s manufacturing activity probably shrank for a second straight month in February, a Reuters poll showed on Monday, suggesting factory owners are still struggling to turn a profit as weak domestic demand and investment offset resilient exports.

1 mins

India’s central bank likely Steps in as oil price surge hurts rupee, traders say

The Reserve Bank of India likely intervened in the foreign exchange market on Monday, five traders told Reuters, as the currency came under pressure due to a sharp rise in oil prices after conflict broke out in the Middle East over the weekend.

1 mins

AS MIDEAST TENSION THREATENS GLOBAL OIL SUPPLY

Marcos orders stable oil, consumer goods supply

2 mins

Indonesia's inflation rate picks up to 4.76% in Feb

Indonesia's annual inflation rate picked up to 4.76 percent in February to reach its highest in nearly three years, reflecting the impact of an electricity tariff discount at the beginning of 2025, official data showed on Monday.

1 mins

Japan faces growth risks, slower BOJ rate hikes from Iran conflict

Japan faces risks of low growth and high inflation if a prolonged Middle East conflict keeps oil prices elevated and hits the import-reliant economy, analysts say, complicating the central bank’s efforts to push up still-low interest rates.

1 mins

DOJ SUMMONS VILLAR FAMILY OVER MARKET MANIPULATION, INSIDER TRADING RAPS FILED BY SEC

THE Department of Justice on Monday said it has subpoenaed key officers and directors of Villar Land Holding Corporation in connection with the criminal complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for alleged market manipulation and insider trading.

1 mins

DOE kicks off 5th round of green energy auction focusing on offshore wind projects

THE Department of Energy (DOE) said proceedings for the 5th round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA5) program intended for offshore wind (OSW) projects have formally opened for registration of qualified suppliers.

2 mins

Tanco increases stake in online gaming company DigiPlus

DIGIPLUS Interactive Corp.

2 mins

SEC issues new rules on Sukuk to expand Islamic capital market, comply with Sharia law

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released new rules covering Sukuk, the Islamic capital investment instrument in the Philippines, establishing the regulatory framework for its issuances, outlining rules on registration, permissible structures, as well as reporting and disclosure requirements for issuers, the state commission said on Monday (March 2).

2 mins

Globe raises P25B from preferred shares sale

GLOBE Telecom Inc. raised P25 billion from a preferred shares offering, which will be used partly to finance its capital expenditures this year.

1 mins

Security Bank 2025 net income grows 3% to P11.6B; revenues surge 22% to P54.8B

SECURITY Bank Corp. said on Monday its 2025 net income rose 3 percent to P11.60 billion, reflecting higher provisions for credit reserves and fortify its balance sheet against macroeconomic uncertainty.

2 mins

Oil exploration firm PXP widens net loss, dragged by lower production volume and prices

PXP Energy Corp. reported a wider core net loss of P50.2 million for 2025, up by 50.8 percent from P33.3 million in 2024

2 mins

Aboitiz InfraCapital sets gold standard as Mactan-Cebu shines on global stage

Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc, the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group and the country’s largest airport operator outside Manila, is redefining Philippine aviation by proving that public-private partnerships can deliver world-class results when executed with discipline, innovation, and long-term vision.

2 mins

NEXTASIA Barcelona signals new era of township living in Southern Luzon

NEXTASIA Land Inc. has unveiled NEXTASIA Barcelona, a BS-billion, 22-hectare European-inspired boutique township envisioned to reshape the residential landscape of Southern Luzon and elevate what affordable ‘community living can be.

2 mins

SM Supermalls unveils month-long celebration of empowered women

This Women’s Month, SM Supermalls rolls out the red carpet for women who live with intention, lead with heart, and embrace every opportunity to grow.

2 mins

TP blends heritage and innovation at Bacolod's Bacolaodiat Festival

TP in the Philippines once again brought together culture, community, and technology as it deepened its support for the annual Bacolaodiat Festival, one of Bacolod’s most anticipated celebrations marking the Chinese New Year.

2 mins

How a Filipina leader is steering Mactan hospitality into its next era

Years of working alongside global executives and overseeing complex hotel operations shaped Gwen's leadership long before she assumed stewardship of one of Cebu's most strategically positioned hospitality properties.

1 mins

Shipping companies divert vessels around Cape of Good Hope after strikes on Iran

SHIPPING companies Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM are rerouting vessels around Africa, away from the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

1 mins

OIL SURGES 9% AS IRAN CONFLICT DISRUPTS MIDDLE EASTERN SUPPLY FLOW

Oil prices surged 9 percent on Monday after shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by retaliatory Iranian attacks following initial bombing by Israel and the United States that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

3 mins

Oil prices expected to stay high for days, all eyes on Strait of Hormuz flows

ANALYSTS expect oil prices to remain elevated over the coming days with conflict escalating in the Middle East, as they assess the impact to supplies, especially flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for more than 20 percent of global oil.

1 mins

Ship insurers cancel war risk cover due to Iran conflict

Several marine insurers said they are cancelling war risk cover for ships due to the conflict in Iran and the Gulf.

1 mins

Three tankers damaged in Gulf and one seafarer killed as US-Iran conflict escalates

At least three tankers were damaged off the Gulf coast and one seafarer was killed as Iranian retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on Iran exposed ships to collateral damage, shipping sources and officials said on Sunday.

1 mins

Iran conflict disrupts some Middle East oil, fuel assessments from reporting agency Platts

Oil price reporting agency S&P Global Platts is suspending bids and offers for price assessments of Middle East refined products that transit the Strait of Hormuz because of shipping disruptions from the US-Iran conflict, the company said in a note to subscribers sent out on Monday and reviewed by Reuters.

1 mins

US lawmakers see no Trump plan for Iran following strikes

THE United States has yet to spell out a “day-after” strategy for Iran following joint US-Israeli strikes that killed much of the country’s leadership, lawmakers from both major political parties said on Sunday.

3 mins

Neutralizing impunity

WITH the case of crimes against humanity against Rodrigo Duterte almost certainly going to trial, there is real hope that the climate of impunity, especially among public officials and law enforcers, will dramatically fall.

2 mins

SM INVESTMENTS 2025 PROFIT CLIMBS 10% TO P90B; MULLS EXIT FROM MINING, DATA CENTER BUSINESSES

SM Investments Corp. remains optimistic that it will maintain its growth trajectory amid the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty as it reported a 10 percent increase in net income last year, at P90.5 billion from P82.6 billion last year.

2 mins

BCDA, Hann Philippines to put up international school in New Clark City

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Hann Philippines Inc. have signed an agreement to establish an international school within a 10-hectare portion ofthe company’s sprawling Hann Reservein New Clark City, BCDA said on Monday.

1 mins

Pentagon tells Congress no sign that Iran was going to attack US first, sources say

Trump administration officials acknowledged in closed-door briefings with congressional staff on Sunday that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack US forces first, two people familiar with the matter said.

2 mins

KHAMENEI’S KILLING SHATTERS IRAN’S ORDER, TRIGGERS HIGH-STAKES SUCCESSION RACE

The assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has plunged the Islamic Republic into its most perilous crisis since the 1979 revolution - confronting it with war on its own territory, an unresolved succession, and mounting internal strain.

3 mins

China stocks steady as surges in energy, defence shares offset airline losses; HK drops

China’s equity benchmarks were little changed on Monday in the wake of the Iran conflict as surges in energy, defence and gold stocks offset plunges in airline and tourism shares.

1 mins

ASIAN ASSETS SLIDE AS MIDEAST STRIKES SPARK OIL SPIKE, HAVEN RUSH

EMERGING Asian stocks and currencies slid on Monday after weekend US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes in the region lifted oil prices and sparked a dash for havens such as the US dollar, gold and sovereign debt.

1 mins

Euro sags, dollar gains as Iran war lifts energy prices

The euro slid, Swiss franc rose and dollar jumped on Monday as investors sought safety after the US and Israel bombed Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and raising the risk of protracted conflict in the Middle East.

3 mins

OIL SURGES, STOCKS SLIDE, DOLLAR RALLIES AS CONFLICT GRIPS MIDDLE EAST

Oil prices surged, the dollar jumped and shares slid on Monday as military conflict in the Middle East looked set to last for weeks, threatening to upend a global economic recovery and perhaps reignite inflation.

2 mins

Gold climbs as US-Israel strikes on Iran spark safe-haven demand

GOLD prices rose on Monday after the US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating geopolitical tensions and deepening global economic uncertainty.

1 mins

'SINNERS' WINS TOP ACTOR AWARD, BOOSTING CHANCES AT THE OSCARS

Vampire thriller \"Sinners\" claimed the Actor Award for best movie cast on Sunday, a major win for the Segregation-era tale on Hollywood's road to the Oscars.

1 mins

Radiohead urges US ICE to take down video using its song

British rock band Radiohead said on Friday it wanted a promotional video for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that used their song to be taken down.

1 mins

Jerald, Kim tie the knot in Bohol seaside ceremony

THE month of March started with Kim Molina tying the knot with boyfriend Jerald Napoles at the Amorita Resort in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines on Sunday.

1 mins

PANAGBENGA AT 30 AWES CROWDS ANEW

The annual parade of floats did not disappoint the thousands of spectators who gathered over the weekend.

3 mins

Pokémon Champions comes to Nintendo Switch in April

POKÉMON Champions, the multiplayer strategy video game developed by The Pokémon Works will be available for download on Nintendo Switch in April 2026. As a bonus, if a Player play Pokémon Champions before August 31, 2026, he can claim a Dragonite from the mailbox in-game.

1 mins

Medal from first modern Olympics fetches three times estimate at auction

A MEDAL awarded at the first modern Olympic Games smashed auction estimates, selling for about four times its expected high price at a Danish auction house on Sunday.

1 mins

Sponge Cola, Gigi De Lana join forces for first-ever collaboration, 'Naghihilom'

SPONGE Cola and Gigi De Lana are set to release their first collaborative single, “Naghihilom,’ on March 6 across major streaming platforms, with an official music video premiering the same day.

1 mins

Jadon Kilayko: Bacolod coming of age

JADON Kilayko became aware of the changes during his trips home to Bacolod.

2 mins

THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF VOCAL PROWESS IN PPO CONCERT VII THIS MARCH

THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra continues its landmark 41st season with its seventh concert on March 13, 2026, 7:30 pm, at the Metropolitan Theater.

2 mins

Art as a tribute to the creative spirit in 'Possible Storms'

ON December 6, the Blanc Gallery in Quezon City launched \"Possible Storms\", an art show paying tribute to the spirit of creativity in all of its forms.

1 mins

Alsons Dev reinforces cultural advocacy in Davao's National Arts Month celebration

ALSONS Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) reaffirmed its commitment to advancing culture and the arts as part of community development by serving as a strategic partner for the Davao leg of the National Arts Month, held February 20-21, 2026.