MANILA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine peso slid to a fresh record low against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, nearing the 62-to-1-dollar level, as rising global oil prices fueled by Middle East tensions continued to pressure the economy, local media reported.
The currency opened at 61.85 per dollar and touched an intraday low of 61.995, the weakest level in Philippine history, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
The peso has come under sustained pressure this year, with higher crude prices weighing heavily on the country's trade balance and inflation outlook, local media said. ■
