<p><strong>Oil prices rose while gold held steady</strong> as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly stopped following reports of ships coming under gunfire, heightening global supply chain and security fears.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs </strong>as investor confidence was bolstered by strong corporate earnings and the news that the US and Iran have extended their current ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine peso weakened against the dollar</strong> due to market uncertainty regarding the US Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory and cautious investor sentiment surrounding the stability of the US-Iran ceasefire deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Philippines’ rice imports are projected to reach 4.8 million metric tons this year, </strong>exceeding the elevated level recorded in 2024, as the government seeks to secure domestic supply.&nbsp;</p>

<ul><li data-list-item-id="e0e2d98af6c94bd72e269690eccdc8b9d"><span data-teams="true"><strong>Philippine aviation authorities have raised airline fuel surcharges to near-maximum levels,</strong> a move expected to increase travel costs for passengers as carriers grapple with volatile global oil prices and supply disruptions.&nbsp;</span></li></ul>