Vietnam’s stock market opens first trading session of 2019

Addressing the ceremony, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said with reforms and resolve of the Government, it is hoped that the national economy will make progress and the quality of the stock market will be improved in the year. 

Despite the complex development of the global economy, Vietnam recorded impressive economic results in 2018, he said, noting the national gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.08%, the highest level since 2008, while the inflation rate was at 3.54%. 

Vietnam maintained trade surplus, stabilised the financial market and kept public debt lower than the target set by the National Assembly, the official added. 

The country’s stock market capitalisation rose 10.6% against 2017 to nearly VND3.9 quadrillion (US$167.7 billion), equivalent to 70.2% of the GDP, exceeding the target of 70% set in the national stock market development strategy for the 2011-2020 period. 

Some VND6.5 trillion (US$279.5 million) worth of bonds were traded during each session, a year-on-year rise of 29%. The bond market was valued at nearly VND1.2 quadrillion (US$51.6 billion), up 10.5%year-on-year and making up 22.4% of the GDP last year. 

The minister said up to VND62.2 trillion (US$2.67 billion) was mobilised from stocks, corporate bonds, equitisation and divestment, an increase of 30.7% as compared with the previous year. 

With the performance, the stock market has proven its role as an effective capital mobilisation channel of both the Government and private enterprises, he said, stressing that Vietnam’s stock market has been seen as the most successful one in Southeast Asia in this regard. 

The Finance Ministry will make greater efforts to continue improving institutions, mechanisms and policies, focusing the adoption of the revised Law on Securities and guidance documents, while restructuring the stock market with importance placed on improving capacity of intermediary organisations and making them healthy. 

The Vietnam Stock Exchange is expected to be established under the Prime Minister’s decision on the basis of the rearrangement of the HNX and the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, Dung said, noting that the national securities market is expected to be elevated from the marginal status to the emerging one. 

Besides, the ministry will work to complete the legal framework and submit synchronous solutions to the Government to develop the market, remove difficulties facing businesses and protect the legitimate right of investors, he affirmed.