Peso and Stocks Fall as Trump Rejects Middle East Peace Deal
The Philippine peso slid against the US dollar on Monday due to rising global crude oil prices. The local currency closed at P62.545:$1, down from last Friday's finish of P62.465:$1.
The conflict in the Middle East remains unresolved after US President Donald Trump rejected a peace deal. Global crude prices climbed to near two-week highs on Monday, with Brent up to $107 per barrel.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said that only a negotiated solution can resolve the impasse over the global energy bottleneck. He noted that Trump's remarks have been contradictory, which has contributed to the market uncertainty.