The pandemic has made it more difficult for the Philippines to attract and retain talents for its businesses, making it land 57th of 64 countries covered in the 2021 IMD World Talent Ranking that was released Thursday. European countries retained the top rankings.

Tail ender! PH ranks 57th of 64 economies in World Talent Ranking 2021

With economic rebound slower than expected due to the Delta strain of the coronavirus, an economic think tank believes this year’s national polls would keep investors on wait-and-see, especially with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. leading the surveys.

BBM’s victory a ‘threat’ to recovery, UK think tank warns

By maintaining an accommodative monetary policy stance to allow the economy to fully recover from the pandemic, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is unfazed by the more transmissible Omicron variant that is spreading wildly across the world.

BSP unfazed by Omicron

Think tank Fitch Solutions said the 2022 deficit would likely narrow to 7.9 percent of gross domestic products from 8.3 percent last year. It also expects the debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 69.2 percent in 2022. To compare, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 63.1 percent as of September last year.

Looming problem: Fitch raises PH budget deficit forecast

COL Financial Group, Inc. Chief Technical Analyst Juanis Barredo said the market has been factoring in the latest Covid-19 surge and the “more hawkish” stance of the US Federal Reserve, which may have contributed to the recent “lackluster volume” at the stock market.

Slow stock market from uncertainties of US interest rates, Omicron rage

The country’s gross international reserves—despite the higher valuation of its gold holdings— rose slightly or by 1.08 percent in December over its level in November of $107.723 billion but it was 1.11 percent less than the record $110.117 billion at end-2020. Still, this is below the projection of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of $111 billion.

Coming up short; GIR drops below BSP forecast

The country’s trade deficit in November further widened with exports growing at 6.6 percent and imports at 36.8 percent to $4.7 billion, leading to a cumulative deficit of $37.92 billion from January to November. The deficit surged 119.5 percent in November and 71.2 in the 11-month period, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Trade deficit surges to record levels in November

Analysts said that the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, which are heavily dependent on international tourism, will have substantial economic scarring this year and that the Philippines and Indonesia will be the laggards in economic recovery in the region.

Unwelcome forecast: PH faces substantial economic scarring

Manufacturing activity rose to 51.8 index last December, making it rise continuously for nine straight months last year. But workforce continued to dip for the 22nd straight month. Input costs also rose because of supply shortages.

Manufacturing hits 9-month high in December

Southeast Asian nations will see its inflation reaching the highest levels in 10 years next year driven by higher energy prices, a recovering domestic demand and employment, setting the stage for a monetary policy tightening across the region.

Grim outlook: ASEAN inflation to hit 10-year high in 2022

Tail ender! PH ranks 57th of 64 economies in World Talent Ranking 2021 photo BusinessWorld Online

BBM’s victory a ‘threat’ to recovery, UK think tank warns photo inquirer.net

Unwelcome forecast PH faces substantial economic scarring photo BusinessWorld Online

Manufacturing hits 9-month high in December photo BusinessWorld Online

BSP unfazed by Omicron photo CNN Philippines

Looming problem Fitch raises PH budget deficit forecast photo BusinessMirror

Grim outlook ASEAN inflation to hit 10-year high in 2022 photo BusinessWorld Online

Trade deficit surges to record levels in November photo WSJ

Slow stock market from uncertainties of US interest rates, Omicron rage photo The World Economic Forum

Coming up short; GIR drops below BSP forecast photo BusinessWorld Online

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