Vietnam’s Stocks: Mekophar Chemical, Ben Thanh Trading Advance

Mekophar Chemical Pharmaceutical Joint-Stock Co. (MKP VN), a drugmaker, climbed 3.3 percent to 46,600 dong, heading for the steepest advance since June 7. The company will pay its shareholders a dividend of 1,500 dong a share on July 23, it said in a statement on the exchange’s website.

Ben Thanh Trading & Service Joint-Stock Co. (BTT) , which offers trading, financial and real-estate services, gained 0.5 percent to 20,600 dong. The stock rose as much as 2 percent earlier. The company’s pretax profit climbed 40 percent to 22 billion dong ($1 million) in the first five months of the year while revenue increased 6.4 percent to 136 billion dong, according to a statement filed on the bourse’s website.