<p><strong>According to a Nikkei source, Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz 30 days after a peace deal with the US, </strong>pledging to clear mines, waive transit fees, extend the ceasefire, and begin nuclear talks.</p>

<p><strong>Oil prices declined nearly 7% on Monday,</strong> as optimism over a potential US-Iran peace deal outweighed both sides’ caution about an imminent breakthrough.</p>

<p><strong>Domestic trade in goods in the Philippines fell by nearly 20% in value and over 35% in volume in Q1 2026, </strong>reflecting weaker economic growth, supply-chain disruptions, and subdued consumer and business spending.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine peso strengthened against the dollar on Monday, closing at PHP 61.465 per US dollar, </strong>as easing global oil prices driven by signs of a potential US-Iran deal boosted sentiment.</p>

<p><strong>The Philippines’ external debt service rose 31.5% year-on-year to USD 2.127 billion as of February 2026,</strong> driven by higher principal payments on foreign loans, according to preliminary Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data.</p>