<p><strong>The UK economy recorded an unexpected 0.3% month-on-month (MoM) growth in March 2026,</strong> driven by resilience in services, construction, and manufacturing. This brings first quarter growth to 0.6% MoM.</p>

<p><strong>US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will conclude a two-day state visit on Friday, as Xi cautioned against mishandling the Taiwan issue,</strong> while Trump seeks diplomatic gains to bolster his standing.</p>

<p><strong>Philippine foreign investment pledges rose 52.3% year-on-year in Q1 2026 to PHP 42.64 billion, </strong>led by manufacturing, IT-BPM, and logistics, though overall commitments marked their lowest level in four quarters.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine peso slid to a record low of PHP 61.64 per US dollar on May 14, 2026,</strong> pressured by domestic political turmoil and persistent strength in the US dollar.</p>

<p><strong>The Bureau of Internal Revenue reported that April 2026 collections surpassed target levels,</strong> reflecting stronger tax compliance and enforcement, though still below budget expectations.</p>