MANILA March 5 — Philippine annual inflation sped up for the first time in five months in February because of faster increases in food and transport costs, likely giving the central bank little reason to consider lowering interest rates.

TOKYO, Oct 19 — Japan's exports grew for the first time in three months in September, amid signs of resilience in overseas markets, but a worsening conflict in the Middle East and slowdown in China cloud the outlook for the world's third-largest economy.