Many speculative stocks on the Hochiminh Stock Exchange tumbled on Thursday as coronavirus fears in Vietnam and elsewhere in the world led investors to dash for cash.

The improvement in disbursement rate in the first two months of 2020 was partly thanks to the effectiveness of the revised Public Investment Law since early 2020.

A total of 15 securities services are set to become free or cheaper to support the stock market.

By changing the form of investment, construction of the expressway could start in the third quarter of 2020 instead of the first quarter of 2021 at the earliest.

The VN-Index plunged 2.91 percent to 725.94 points Thursday, continuing its downturn after registering a small gaining session Wednesday.

Vietnamese shares retreated on Thursday as foreign investors maintained net-selling amid concerns over the coronavirus-hit global economy.

Gold prices rose on Thursday after a steep fall in the previous session, as the European Central Bank’s measures to mitigate the economic effects of the coronavirus epidemic lifted investor sentiment.

The euro rose on Thursday against the dollar and the pound after the European Central Bank announced a 750 billion euro asset-purchase program in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Long-term U.S. debt yields leaped Wednesday as investors sold 10- and 30-year bonds amid discussion about a potential $1 trillion federal stimulus package to help goose the economy.

Oil dropped 24% to a more than 18-year low on Wednesday as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sap demand for crude, and as rising worries about a global recession lead to fears of longer-term demand destruction.