News

Shares declined further on Thursday amid rising investor caution, but foreign investors took the chance to increase their holdings.

At the end of Thursday’s session, the VN-Index closed at 962.3 points, the lowest since February 18, 2019.

Bank loan disbursements for large-scale or hi-tech projects are being prioritized, while small and medium enterprises (SME) in need of capital are encountering numerous obstacles in taking out loans, Tran Viet Anh, vice chairman of the HCMC Union Business Associations, said at a conference today, April 18.

Stock losses extended to the third straight session today, April 18, due to a continued sell-off, pushing down the VN-Index of the Hochiminh Stock Exchange.

Markets in Japan, South Korea and China traded higher on Friday while other Asia Pacific markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia, were closed for a public holiday.

European stocks closed higher on the final day of a shortened trading week, as investors looked past weak euro zone data to fresh corporate earnings.

Oil prices were slightly higher on Thursday, as a drop in crude shipments from top exporter Saudi Arabia and a draw in U.S. oil inventories supported prices

U.S. government debt prices rose on Thursday as U.S. retail sales data beat expectations.

The dollar steadied against a basket of currencies on Friday after hitting a 2.5-week high overnight as data pointed to a sturdy U.S. economy, while the euro was dented by weak manufacturing activity in Europe.