<p><strong>Global stock markets reached record highs while gold remained steady</strong> as investors react to optimism surrounding a potential end to the US-Iran conflict following a formal peace proposal.</p>

<p><strong>Experts warn that the global oil supply shock is set to intensify as inventories continue to dwindle, </strong>even if current geopolitical tensions and conflicts stabilize.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine agricultural sector saw a 0.3% contraction in production during the first quarter of 2026, </strong>driven by significant declines in crop and fisheries output despite growth in the livestock and poultry subsector.</p>

<p><strong>New data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that 2.58 million Filipinos remained unemployed in March,</strong> highlighting ongoing challenges in the domestic labor market. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine peso strengthened to 61.305 against the US dollar </strong>as market sentiment improved on news of a potential diplomatic resolution to the conflict between the US and Iran.&nbsp;</p>