FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Philippines Business Confidence Further Drops in April as Middle East Conflict Hits

By

Philippine business confidence weakened further in April, declining for a second straight month as the Middle East conflict continued to weigh on sentiment, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday.

According to the latest Business Expectations Survey, the confidence index fell to -35.8 in April from -24.3 in March, reflecting growing concerns over higher inflation, rising operating costs, and reduced household purchasing power.

While near-term sentiment softened, longer-term outlooks improved, with businesses expecting stronger demand and better economic conditions, alongside some optimism over a possible easing of geopolitical tensions, the central bank said.

Related Articles

International

Japan Retail Sales Accelerate in April

Japan's retail sales grew 2.1% year-on-year to 13.217 trillion yen in April, preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry on Friday showed.The reading is higher than the 1.4% growth rate the prior month and is the highest in 12 months.Retail sales climbed 0.2% in food and beverage, surged 15.4% in motor vehicles, jumped 5.5% in machinery and equipment, but contracted 9% in fuel.Further, commercial sales gained 5.4% on year to 55.64 trillion yen, while wholesale trade jumped 6.5% to 42.423 trillion yen, the data showed.

Nikkei 225
International

Singapore Manufacturing Prices, Domestic Supply Surge in April

Singapore's manufacturing prices continued to surge in April, backed by strong performances across the oil and non-oil indices, the city-state's Department of Statistics reported Friday.Singapore's Manufactured Products Price Index jumped 27.5% year on year in April, extending the 20.2% increase in March.The oil index jumped 69.2%, while the non-oil index rose 21.4% on-year during the month, the filing said.Month-over-month, manufacturing prices rose 6.7%, following a 11.2% increase in the previous month. The oil index gained 4.1%, while the non-oil index rose by 7.3% on the month, the data showed.Meanwhile, Singapore's Domestic Supply Price Index jumped 31.6% in April, extending a 26.7% surge in March. The oil index zoomed 79.3%, and the non-oil index climbed by 17.1%, the data showed.Month-on-month, the Domestic Supply Price Index rose 3.1%, moderating from a 21% rise in the previous month. The oil index slipped 1.6%, while the non-oil index was up 5.4%.

^STI
International

Singapore's Export, Import Prices Rise in April

Singapore's Export Price Index rose 13.3% year on year in April, following an 8.7% rise in the preceding month, the city-state's Department of Statistics reported Friday.The Non-Oil Export Index gained 1.9%, while the Oil Export Index surged 67.2% on-year during the month.Meanwhile, the Import Price Index rose 18.4% year on year in April, extending a 17.1% decline in the preceding month.The Non-Oil Import Index gained 3.6% and the Oil Import Index surged 72.6% on year, the data showed.On a month-on-month basis, the Export Price Index rose 3%, while the Import Price Index fell 0.3%, the data showed.

^STI