The Philippines’ economic growth beat expectations last year, fueled by strong consumer spending despite rising consumer prices, officials said Thursday.

Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday as traders in several countries returned from the Lunar New Year break to a soft lead out of Wall Street with recession fears still causing concern.

Tokyo led gains across most Asian markets again Tuesday, in another day thinned by the Lunar New Year break, with sentiment boosted once more by a surge on Wall Street.

The dollar was on the back foot on Tuesday, hovering near a nine-month low to the euro and giving back recent gains against the yen, as traders continued to gauge the risks of a US recession and the path for Federal Reserve policy.

Asian markets were mixed in holiday-thinned trade Monday, while the dollar dropped as investors lowered their expectations for US interest rate hikes.

The dollar was staring at a fourth straight session of losses against the euro on Monday as more hawkish comments on European interest rates contrasted with market pricing for a less aggressive Federal Reserve.

Asian markets mostly ticked higher Friday after a rocky week that saw recession fears return to the fore, offsetting growing hope that China's emergence from zero-COVID will help boost the struggling global economy.

The government’s push for the mandatory 35 percent biodiesel (B35) program may boost weakening crude palm oil (CPO) prices, but probably only temporarily, market observers anticipate.

An anticipated weakening of the United States dollar will make Indonesian markets more desirable for international investors, helping prop up the rupiah amid global and domestic uncertainty, analysts have said.

Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following a mixed lead from Wall Street as traders fought to maintain the strong start to the year.

The 10.2 percent year-on-year rise in the corporate goods price index (CGPI), which measures the price companies charge each other for their goods and services, exceeded a median market forecast for a 9.5 percent gain, Bank of Japan data showed.

Asian shares edged higher on Monday as investors waited nervously to see whether the Bank of Japan (BOJ) would defend its super-sized stimulus policy at a pivotal meeting this week, while a holiday in US markets made for thin trading.

Indonesian credit insurance firms are under scrutiny after a government watchdog found competition in the industry to be unhealthy at a time when lenders are filing more claims on loan defaults.

While most industries may have recovered to their pre-pandemic levels, commercial real estate could use a boost through government stimulus in light of lagging occupancy rates and global recession fears, industry insiders have said.

Asian markets mostly rose again Friday and the dollar remained under pressure after data showing another slowdown in US inflation fueled bets the Federal Reserve will take a softer approach to its monetary tightening campaign.

Homegrown alcohol beverage Cap Tikus producer seeks to expand production capacity and sell its product to overseas markets after successfully raising US$11.3 million from an initial public offering (IPO).

Bank Sumut is set to make its debut on the Indonesia Stock Exchange on Feb.7 to become the fourth regionally owned bank listed on the bourse. 

The Indonesian crypto market is unlikely to improve in 2023, with investors braced for another difficult year amid a new regulatory environment.

Shares of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia have suffered a precipitous drop in the company’s first days back on the stock market, as it struggles to regain the trust of investors after a solvency crisis last year.

The euro steadied on Wednesday and riskier currencies bounced, lifted by optimism that China's eventual emergence from COVID restrictions helps growth, while investor focus turned to US data and the Federal Reserve.

The US dollar eased on Tuesday as investors awaited the minutes from the last US Federal Reserve policy meeting, and the yen was its strongest in six months amid speculation that the Bank of Japan might move away from its ultra-easy policy.

Indonesia has marked another milestone with the IDX Composite becoming the region's best-performing index of 2022.

European shares rose in the first trading session of 2023 on Monday, after a rough year marred with fears of a recession as central banks hiked rates globally and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US Inflation Reduction Act contains around $370 billion in subsidies for green energy, as well as tax cuts for US-made electric cars and batteries.

Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) said the country’s capital market would make it through the uncertainties that loom in 2023, as the market would bank on the country’s ever-growing domestic investors, who have been relatively unaffected by current global turmoil.

Indonesia’s rice retail prices have consistently been the highest in the Southeast Asian region over the past decade, according to World Bank.

Asian equities rose on Friday as investors looked to end the year on an optimistic note after US data showed the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy was dampening inflationary pressures even as worries over COVID cases in China persist. 

The dollar steadied on Thursday after riding long-end US Treasury yields higher overnight, as initial optimism over China's reopening fizzled.

Real estate investment in Asia-Pacific is projected to drop 5 to 10 percent year on year (yoy) in 2023, following a steep 25 percent yoy decline this year, amid tumultuous economic conditions that are weighing on sentiment. 

Asian equities were subdued on Wednesday, while the dollar held firm, with investors looking for direction after China took further steps towards reopening its COVID-battered economy.