central bank Archives » Pinoy Money Talk

U.S. Fed announces Quantitative Easing (QE3) tapering

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the U.S. Federal Reserve announced yesterday, June 19, that if the U.S. economy continues to improve, it will start winding down its asset-buying program and may completely end it by mid-year of 2014.

The news sent stock markets in the United States down by more than 1 percent, with the Dow Jones industrial average (DJIA) closing 205.96 points lower, or 1.34%, at 15,112.27.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500), meanwhile, closed 1.39% lower at 1,628.92, while the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 1.12% at 3,443.20.

Philippines suffering from shortage of coins

Coin shortage in the Philippines How many times have you been irked by cashiers saying they don’t have barya and “Para masuklian kita nang buo, Sir, penge na lang ng singkwenta sentimos”?

That scene is almost always annoying but, apparently, this only confirms that the Philippines is currently suffering from a shortage of coins.

New check clearing process in Philippine banks

A few weeks ago, I issued a post-dated check (PDC) but forgot to fund it prior to deposit date. My bank, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), called me up to follow up. I then immediately made the fund transfer and the check was honored on the same day without me paying any fees.

Unfortunately, starting this year, this is not anymore possible. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently issued Circular No. 681 or the “Revised Check Clearing and Settlement Processes.” Taking effect on January 1, 2011, the circular basically requires check issuers to fund the check prior to issuance.

Philippine inflation rate may still rise

The country is still reeling from the effects of a 14-year high inflation rate of 11.4% but the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warned that prices may still rise and inflation might peak during the 3rd quarter of 2008.
The good thing, though, is that according to the BSP, it may come down starting the last quarter of the year and may continue until 2009.

US Federal Reserve cuts interest rate by 0.75 points

In a surprise move, the US Federal Reserve cut today the federal funds rate by three-quarters of a percentage point, in an attempt to fan … Read More