Brokerages have said bank stocks will continue supporting the equity market this year but are not main drivers as lenders are facing a slew of challenges.

Vietnamese shares were mixed on the two local exchanges yesterday, while investors tried to take profits from advancing stocks.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam’s two stock bourses yesterday agreed to jointly build a common index as a step towards developing the country’s securities market.

VietNamNet Bridge - The continued net sales by foreign investors has raised big concerns. However, experts have said the net sales would end by June.

VietNamNet Bridge - The closure of many fast food shops in recent days has raised a question if the Vietnamese fast food market has become saturated and no longer attractive.

VietNamNet Bridge - Foreign investors have been selling more than buying in the Vietnamese stock market. However, analysts still believe the foreign capital inflow to Vietnam will increase in 2016. 

VietNamNet Bridge - While thousands of businesses have had to struggle to survive the recession, many businesses have been prospering. With VND100 in capital, they can make VND110 in net profit. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s economy has been heavily relying on Samsung, whose export turnover accounts for a large proportion of Vietnam’s total export revenue.

VietNamNet Bridge - The ‘oil worry’ has spread to financial circles, mostly commercial banks which have provided funds to PetroVietnam’s projects.

VietNamNet Bridge - Television stations have lowered subscription fees in a scramble for subscribers.

VietNamNet Bridge - Managers of large conglomerates are believed to pocket hundreds of billions of dong worth of dividends this year. Many of them have been leading simple lives and doing big business.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) has asked for the Ministry of Transport’s permission to sell an 83M floating dock for VND34.8 billion, or $1.5 million. 

VietNamNet Bridge - In an effort to improve the training quality and reduce the unemployment rate, many universities and junior colleges haven decided to train students according to orders set by businesses.

New investment plans have been prepared by foreign investors for Vietnamobile and Gmobile with hopes of remapping the telecom market, which has been dominated by big Vietnamese players.

This year’s historic drought and saltwater intrusion have been mostly caused by the extreme El Nino weather phenomenon. If the 11 hydropower dams in Mekong upriver become operational, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta will bear a ‘double disaster’.

VietNamNet Bridge - Under a new decision released by the Hanoi Education and Training Department on March 7, students repeatedly violating traffic laws will be forced to stay away from school for one week.

Environmentalists and economists have recommended that Vietnam not only call for support from the governments of countries up the Mekong River, but also take action to rescue the delta. 

The strong message the economists – the authors of the Vietnam 2035 Report – want to convey is that Vietnam needs to carry out reform, or it will lag behind, according to Pham Chi Lan, a renowned economist, a member of the report preparation team.

The local market has seen some of the most attractive shares offered in initial public offerings (IPOs) in March.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has been warned that it would be outstripped by Thailand and Cambodia in rice exports if it cannot change the current production and export policies.