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SPNEC shares surge as P5-B asset deal puts second IPO back in focus -------- SPNEC shares jumped 11.2 percent to P1.39 as the Meralco-backed company unveiled plans to expand its renewable energy business. The deal has also brought its possible second IPO back into the conversation, although there's no firm timetable yet. READ: insiderph.com/spnec-shares-s…

Meralco raises 2026 profit target to P56.6B as power generation gains ------ Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has upgraded its 2026 core profit target to P56.6 billion, putting the power giant on track for another record year as its expanding power generation business and a landmark solar project that was inaugurated earlier this year. The full-year target would represent growth of nearly 12 percent from 2025 READ: insiderph.com/meralco-raises…

‘No retreat’: MVP urges businesses to invest despite economic headwinds ------- "We have to be proactive in helping the economy recover and helping the government do that in whatever way we can," says tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan. READ: insiderph.com/no-retreat-mvp…

BREAKING: After GCash’s blockbuster IPO, Pangilinan eyes Maya listing in 2027 ----- After GCash’s blockbuster IPO, tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is hoping Maya can follow in 2027. He’s also pushing for a Philippine listing even if foreign shareholders prefer Nasdaq. And Maya isn’t the only one on his list, with PLDT's VITRO, tollways and hospitals all potential candidates for future IPOs. READ: insiderph.com/after-gcashs-b…

Meralco on track for record P56.6B profit, solar unit eyes turnaround ——— Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Meralco is on track to hit its upgraded profit target of P56.6 billion in 2026, up 12 percent from last year and potentially setting another record. The power giant earned P44.8 billion in the first nine months, up 12 percent, with power generation contributing 41 percent of earnings. Its listed renewable energy arm, MGEN Renewables, is also eyeing its first full-year profit of more than P700 million, thanks to the massive MTerra Solar project. Meralco has poured P76 billion into expansion, with 72 percentgoing to renewable energy and battery storage projects. 📸: Miguel R. Camus

UnionBank cuts jobs at UnionDigital, UBX in sweeping digital reset ----- Big changes are underway at UnionBank, one of the pioneers of digital banking in the Philippines. The Aboitiz-led lender is cutting jobs at UnionDigital and UBX as it brings both businesses into its main operations, raising questions about what's next for its digital ambitions. Affected employees are getting help finding new opportunities, including possible openings elsewhere in the Aboitiz Group. READ: insiderph.com/unionbank-cuts…

SGV & Co., the Philippines' largest professional services firm, has named veteran assurance partner Michael Sabado as its next chairman and country managing partner, succeeding Rossana Fajardo effective November 3, 2026. READ: insiderph.com/michael-sabado…

The recognition from Singapore-based financial research organization The Asian Banker reflects the bank's sustained financial performance, asset quality and risk management amid changing economic conditions. READ: insiderph.com/metrobank-is-p…

MGEN eyes second IPO with P5-billion renewable energy asset deal ------- MGEN Renewables Inc., a unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), is setting the stage for a second public share offering with a nearly P5-billion asset deal that would expand its business beyond the world's largest single-site solar and battery storage project. The company, formerly SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), approved the acquisition of five renewable energy investments on Oct. 27 in exchange for about 3.11 billion new shares. The assets are valued at P4.98 billion, with the shares priced at P1.60 each, a 30-percent premium to MGEN's Oct. 23 closing price of P1.23.

Another day, another all-time low for the peso. Are the BSP traditional tools enough? Or does the regulator need a more innovative response to the local currency's weakness? @shawnyao reports...

Tough times, but PH mall giants bet P184B on shoppers, pickleball ----- The Philippine mall isn’t going anywhere, but it might look very different in a few years, according to Colliers Philippines. With Filipinos spending more on essentials like food, education and healthcare while cutting back on dining out and leisure, SM, Ayala Land, Megaworld and Robinsons Land are betting P184 billion on new malls and makeovers through 2030. READ: insiderph.com/tough-times-bu…

Editor's note: This is a repost. Photo corrected with new slide removing Adidas from the list. PH retail shake-up: Global brands exit stores as new players move in ----- The Philippine retail landscape is undergoing a shake-up, with established names such as Gap, Old Navy, Nike, Puma and Popeyes reporting closures even as a new wave of international brands enters the market, according to Colliers Philippines research director Joey Bondoc. Among the newcomers are Prada Beauty, Swiss chocolatier Läderach, French pastry brand Ladurée, Nintendo Authorized Store, South Korea’s Super Matcha and Thailand’s ChaTraMue, and China’s Cotti Coffee. But global retailers are not abandoning big stores altogether, with Foot Locker and Uniqlo establishing their largest Southeast Asian outlets at Glorietta, measuring 1,435 sqm and 4,100 sqm, respectively, while IKEA’s 66,000-sqm Pasay store remains its largest worldwide. Shopping malls are also evolving beyond traditional retail, with operators converting underused cinemas, parking lots and rooftops into sports and leisure facilities to attract visitors. The pickleball craze is becoming part of that transformation, with Ayala Malls The 30th turning a former cinema into courts, Bluewave Mall converting cinema space into a sports deck, and SM Supermalls repurposing parking areas and rooftops for the fast-growing sport. 📷: Miguel R. Camus

Metro Manila’s condo glut persists: 80,000 unsold units, discounts hit 40% Metro Manila’s condominium oversupply remains a stubborn challenge, with nearly 80,000 units still unsold despite developers slowing construction and rolling out aggressive incentives to attract buyers, according to Colliers Philippines research director Joey Bondoc. The slowdown is taking its toll on new projects, with only 2,200 units completed in the third quarter of 2026, roughly half the original forecast of 4,500 units. But the glut is creating opportunities for property buyers, with developers offering discounts of up to 40 percent on select ready-for-occupancy units, alongside flexible payment schemes and other incentives. 📸: Miguel R. Camus

BREAKING | Colliers PH: Metro Manila developers slash 2026 office supply by 50% as demand shifts Metro Manila office developers are pulling back on new projects, with property consultancy Colliers slashing its 2026 supply forecast by 51 percent to 247,000 square meters from 505,000 sqm as project completions are pushed back. The slowdown extends beyond the capital, with provincial office leasing plunging 50 percent to 105,000 sqm in the first nine months of 2026 from 209,000 sqm a year earlier. But flexible workspaces are bucking the trend, with net take-up soaring 185 percent to 7,600 seats during the same period as vacancy fell to 16.9 percent, highlighting stronger demand for flexible office arrangements.

SMC Infrastructure is preparing for a 10-percent increase in vehicle traffic across its expressway network during the Undas holiday period, deploying additional personnel and emergency response teams to manage congestion and assist motorists. READ: insiderph.com/smc-prepares-l…

BREAKING: Lao-led D&L extends governance winning streak to seven years ------- Lao family-led D&L Industries has extended its corporate governance winning streak to seven consecutive years, reinforcing its standing among Philippine listed companies recognized for transparency and accountability. READ: insiderph.com/lao-led-dl-ext…

Mitsubishi's P44.5-B Ayala deal clears key shareholder hurdle --------- Japanese trading giant Mitsubishi Corp. has moved a step closer to expanding its stake in Ayala Corp. after shareholders of the Zobel-led conglomerate approved key changes needed to complete its P44.5-billion investment. READ: insiderph.com/mitsubishis-p4…

Consunji-led DMCI group earns governance honors for three listed firms READ: insiderph.com/consunji-led-d…

BREAKING: Consunji-led DMCI group earns governance honors for three listed firms ------ Three companies under the Consunji family's DMCI group have secured corporate governance honors, highlighting the conglomerate's push for stronger oversight across its construction, energy, mining and cement businesses. DMCI Holdings, Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC), and Concreat Holdings Philippines were recognized at the 2025 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Golden Arrow Awards held in Makati City on Oct. 23.