Fed hikes rate

Workers at Nhon Trach 2 Plant. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung Fitch Ratings has affirmed PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power)’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) at “BB” with a positive outlook. This is the third consecutive year that PV Power has received “BB” rating with a positive outlook, the highest rating that a Vietnamese company can reach. The rating, which is based on PV Power's Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) assessment of “BB”, is on a par with the IDR of its 80 per cent parent, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN, BB/Positive). PV Power's SCP is driven by its strong market position as Viet Nam's second-largest electricity producer, accounting for around 5 per cent of the country's total electricity output and 5 per cent of installed capacity in 2022. It also benefits from diversified fuel sources, long-term power-purchase agreements (PPAs) with Viet Nam Electricity (EVN, BB/Positive) for more than 80 per cent of its electricity output and a strong … [Read more...] about PV Power receives “BB” rating for third consecutive year

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) last week announced additional adjustments to a series of key interest rates, effective from May 25. This move marks the third round of interest rate decreases within a span of less than three months, signifying its resolute efforts in lowering the interest rate landscape, aimed at providing vital support to businesses and stimulating overall economic growth. The SBV’s rate reduction moves cater specifically to existing customers, Photo: Le Toan The recent decision to lower interest rates has garnered praise from industry experts and leaders who believe it to be an appropriate and well-timed move. Le Quang Vinh, deputy CEO of Vietcombank, deemed it a sound decision that is well-aligned with the current economic landscape. “Looking ahead, we anticipate that lending rates will correspondingly decrease as deposit interest rates uniformly decline,” Vinh said. Pham Nhu Anh, CEO of MB, recognises the difficulties faced by the market in … [Read more...] about Rate reductions deemed well-timed

Latest figures from the central bank show that in late February the on-balance sheet non-performing ratio of the banking system stood at 2.91 per cent, an increase compared to 2.46 per cent in late 2016, 1.49 per cent in late 2021 and most recently, 2 per cent in late 2022. However, according to a State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) assessment, several sorts of debts have the potential to be turned into bad debts in the future, such as investment into corporate bonds for debt restructuring, hard-to-collect receivables, among others. “If such debts were considered, the non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio of the system might reach 5 per cent of total outstanding balances,” said SBV Governor Nguyen Thi Hong. One positive point is that credit institutions have been taking practical measures to ensure operational safety through boosting their loan loss reserve (LLR) funds for their bad debts . Accordingly, credit institutions have maintained a fairly high LLR ratio approximating … [Read more...] about How bad debts influence lending rates

Ericsson has also gained important recognition for developing energy-efficient 5G RAN solutions that cater to customers’ needs. — Photo courtesy of the firm Ericsson has retained its top ranking in the Frost Radar™ 5G Network Infrastructure Market 2023 report for the third consecutive year. Maintaining the top ranking in the Frost Radar™ report over the past years has shown Ericsson’s consistent ability to scale its innovations and growth in the field, according to the yearly report from business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. It also reaffirms Ericsson’s leadership in the 5G network infrastructure market, which spans radio access networks (RAN), transport networks, and core networks. Ericsson has also gained important recognition for developing energy-efficient 5G RAN solutions that cater to customers’ needs. Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks at Ericsson, said: “It is rewarding to see our sustained efforts to increase the energy efficiency … [Read more...] about Ericsson retains top ranking in Global 5G network infrastructure market 2023 report

Inside a warehouse of JFE Shoji Steel Hai Phong Company in Hai Phong Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) updated the timeline for auditing the anti-dumping tax on corrosion-resistant steel (COR) of Viet Nam and Turkey, according to the Trade Remedies Authorities of Vietnam. Particularly, CBSA will stop gathering information on June 15, and the parties will submit their arguments on June 22. The deadline for submitting information is June 29, and CBSA will announce the result on July 17. Previously, CBSA proposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against COR steel imported from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Viet Nam in November 2019. Viet Nam’s anti-dumping tax rate is ranging from 2.3 per cent to 71.1 per cent and is not subject to anti-subsidy tax because the subsidy level is only from 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent. However, the export turnover of Viet Nam's taxed products still increased strongly in 2020 and 2022, … [Read more...] about Canada to review duty taxes on Viet Nam’s corrosion-resistant steel

Korean tourists have spent money on travel abroad as soon as COVID-19 prevention measures being lifted. Data from to KB Kookmin Card in January 1 – May 15 showed that in Asia, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand are particularly popular destinations for Korean tourists with the growth rates of 319%, 227%, 193%, and 172%, respectively. Japan and Vietnam - the two countries chosen by Korean tourists to visit the most, still show their attractiveness, with increases of 222% and 163% respectively. The number of air tickets to Vietnam booked by Korean tourists accounted for 12% of the total of air tickets for outbound tours, just after Japan with 52%. According to KB Kookmin Card, the booking rate of air tickets by Korean holiday-makers increased in all regions, with the highest growth recorded for Asia with a year-on-year surge of 192%. Travel agencies, airlines, and duty-free shops in the RoK witnessed respective revenue surges of 409%, 150%, and 88% compared to the … [Read more...] about Vietnam among top three attractive destinations for RoK visitors

HCM City seeks ways to attract more remittances. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The southern largest economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City is striving to achieve an annual growth rate of at least 10% in the inflow of remittances during the 2023-2025 period and maintains this rate in 2025-2030. The information was heard at a seminar held in the city on May 29 by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of HCM City, in coordination with the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Branch in HCM City to seek comments and solutions of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to effectively attract and optimise remittance resources in the city. Remittances to Ho Chi Minh City have always maintained a relatively high growth rate and play a crucial role in the city’s socio-economic development. (Photo: VNA) According to Nguyen Duc Lenh, Deputy Director of the SBV Branch in HCM City, remittances to the city have always maintained a relatively high growth rate and play a crucial role in … [Read more...] about HCM City seeks ways to attract more remittances

Vietnam has more than 12,000 newly-established enterprises with a total registered capital of 103.7 trillion VND (4.44 billion USD) in May. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam had more than 12,000 newly-established enterprises with a total registered capital of 103.7 trillion VND (4.44 billion USD) in May, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). These figures were sharply down by 24.2% and 32.9% in the number of newly registered enterprises and the registered capital respectively from the previous month, reflecting a downward trend in the business climate among individuals and enterprises as difficulties and risks facing the economy may last long. Besides, 33,000 enterprises returned to operation, down 7.4% over the same period last year, bringing the total number of newly established enterprises and those returning to operation in the five months period to nearly 95,000, a fall of 3.7% compared the same period last year. On average, nearly 19,000 businesses were … [Read more...] about Newly established firms decrease 24% in May

In the first five months of the year, Viet Nam exported about $136.17 billion worth of goods, a year-on-year drop of 11.6 per cent, while imports totalled $126.37 billion, down 17.9 per cent year on year. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam’s import-export value in the first five months of this year was estimated at US$262.54 billion, down 14.7 per cent year-on-year, with a trade surplus of $9.8 billion, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced on Monday. In the period, Viet Nam exported about $136.17 billion worth of goods, a year-on-year drop of 11.6 per cent, while imports totalled $126.37 billion, down 17.9 per cent year on year. As many as 23 export items joined the more than one-billion-US dollar club, making up 87.4 per cent of the total export turnover. Regarding the structure of exports, processed commodities earned $120.24 billion (88.3 per cent); agro-forestry products, $10.79 billion; aquatic products, $3.37 billion; and fuel and minerals, about $1.77 billion. As for … [Read more...] about Viet Nam posts trade surplus of US$9.8 billion in five months

There is very high demand for social housing and in the low-end and lower-middle segments where prices are VND1 billion (US$42,370), VND2 billion and VND3 billion per unit and steady regardless of the state of the market. Tran Xuan Ngoc, CEO of property developer Nam Long Investment Corporation, said 2023 is expected to be an extremely difficult year for the market with challenges greater than during the real estate crisis of 2013, and one of the solutions is to build more housing for occupation rather than investment. Social housing, and affordable and mid-priced houses used to account for some 80% of his company’s product basket, and high-end housing for the remaining 20%, he said. It had maintained this formula for decades, but this year the ratio of high-end housing dropped to just 8%, he said. According to a report by real estate consultancy DKRA Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh City and its vicinity, transactions in the first four months of this year were concentrated in the … [Read more...] about Affordable housing the panacea to housing market woes: experts