Hanoi (VNS/VNA)🐼 – Vietnam’s stock market started 2025 on a positive note with a modest gain, as the VN-Index approached the 1,270-point threshold. However, liquidity continued to decline, remaining at low levels, while foreign investors resumed net selling, albeit mildly.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index rose by 2.93 points, or 0.23%, to close at 1,269.71 points. Market breadth leaned positive, with 183 advancing stocks outnumbering 124 decliners. Trading liquidity fell further to approximately 10.8 trillion VND (424.37 million USD), with nearly 429 million shares changing hands. Meanwhile, the VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation on the HoSE, dipped slightly by 1.55 points, or 0.12%, settling at 1,343.2 points. Within the VN30 basket, 12 stocks rose, 11 fell and seven remained unchanged. The banking sector led the gains, with the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) rising by 1.73%, contributing over 1.1 points to the VN-Index, while the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) climbing by 0.77% and the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank For Industry And Trade (CTG), up 0.79%. Other notable gainers included Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG) which posted gains of 1.31% and Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN) which advanced by 1.92%. However, losses in some large-cap stocks limited the overall market's gains. The Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TCB) fell by 1.22%, Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDB) declined by 1.57% and Vietnam Commercial Joint Stock Export Import Bank (EIB) edged down by 2.85%. On the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index rose slightly by 0.11% to close at 227.69 points, with trading value exceeding 625 billion VND and over 36 million shares traded. Foreign investors remained net sellers, offloading shares worth more than 98 billion VND on the HoSE. At the opening bell to mark the start of 2025's trading year, Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang emphasised the importance of enhancing market infrastructure, improving service quality and attracting international investment. He also underscored the need for sustainable market development, transparent operations and smooth trading systems. In 2024, Vietnam's stock market demonstrated resilience and growth despite global macro-economic headwinds. The VN-Index increased by 12.11%, while the total market capitalisation of listed stocks reached 7.08 quadrillion VND, equivalent to nearly 70% of GDP. The number of investor accounts climbed to nearly 9.16 million, a 26% increase compared to 2023. Looking ahead to 2025, the securities sector aims to achieve market reclassification, enhance information technology infrastructure, ensure transparency and security, and focus on investor education to meet international standards and strengthen Vietnamm’s integration into the global financial system./.