THE peso closed little changed yesterday on prevailing oil and inflation concerns, currency traders said.

The currency closed at P42.66 from the previous day’s close of P42.655. It went as high as P42.59 and as low as P42.755—its lowest level since November. Total trade volume reached $850.76 million, up $200.76 million from the previous day’s $650 million on continued corporate buying fueled by demand from oil firms overseas.

A trader who declined to be identified, said the peso is following the slide of most Asian currencies against a stronger dollar.

“The peso is vulnerable to rising prices like most Asian currencies, so when most regional currencies slide, the peso follows,” the trader said.

Another trader said the peso will trade in a “very tight” range as long as jitters on oil prices and inflation remain in the market.

THE GOVERNMENT may have had enough of accredited government securities dealers that, for the past five months, have displayed a stingy attitude when it comes to their money.

PRICES of goods and services in the Philippines have entered a “turbulent” level and inflation will likely spike up to nine percent before pulling back within the 4-percent to 4.5-percent range.

THE peso closed little changed yesterday on prevailing oil and inflation concerns, currency traders said.

BRITISH lender Standard Chartered Bank is tapping the lending and deposit market of small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, as the sector makes a “big contribution” to the economy.

IF the forecast by Standard Chartered Bank on inflation this year is any indication, prices—not growth—preoccupy the banks’ minds the most.