The race of interest rate hikes among commercial banks is showing signs of cooling down as many banks have adjusted down the rate by several percentage points per year after the Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday and have set stricter conditions for customers to enjoy the high rates. A Techcombank transaction office in Hanoi. Techcombank currently lists the highest deposit interest rate at 9.2 per cent per year, against 9.5 per cent per year before Tết. — Photo Techcombank At Techcombank, the highest deposit interest rate at the bank is currently 9.2 per cent per year, against 9.5 per cent per year before Tết. To enjoy the 9.2 per cent interest rate, depositors must be a VIP customer with minimum savings of VNĐ3 billion over 12 months. For regular customers, the rate for 6-month deposits at the bank is also down to 8.5 per cent per year from more than 9 per cent before Tết. At Sacombank, the highest interest rate before Tết was 9.8 per cent per year. However, … [Read more...] about Banks lower saving interest rates right after Tết
Money saving tips when grocery shopping
Financing’s role in reaching net-zero emissions
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Climate change is one of the world’s biggest threats, and reducing emissions is the priority for all countries in the world and the lodestar for investment trends. Warmer temperatures are altering weather phenomena and disrupting the balance of nature, directly affecting human activities. The devastation caused by extreme weather disasters like typhoons, floods, and heat waves is worsening in many nations. And the economic damage caused by climate change is also increasing in line with global temperatures. Major storms destroy crops, costing billions of dollars, while rebuilding after each storm and flood requires a huge amount of money. The more extreme the climate, the more it damages economies. It is a positive sign that many countries have joined the fight for net zero emissions by 2050. Many people worry that it is unrealistic given the standard pace we have already set. However, an expert in the industry believes … [Read more...] about Financing’s role in reaching net-zero emissions
Indonesia to spend nearly 32 billion USD on post-pandemic social protection
People shop for food at a market in Aceh - westernmost province of Indonesia. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian government plans to spend 476 trillion Rp (31.8 billion USD) on social assistance protection as the country is transitioning from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic disease phase. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that his government will not abruptly revoke the massive spending on social programmes aimed at helping the people and businesses cope with the devastating economic impact of the pandemic over the last three years. Speaking at a recent meeting of the National Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PC-PEN), Joko Widodo said that after lifting restrictions at the end of 2022, Indonesia is in an interim phase in which it must maintain caution, especially in deciding on economic measures. In contrast to other nations that have recently experienced high inflation, according to the President, Indonesia has … [Read more...] about Indonesia to spend nearly 32 billion USD on post-pandemic social protection
Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to EU
Illustrative image (Photo: baodautu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is paying attention to mobilising resources to invest in developing green agriculture with an aim to raising the market share of its agricultural exports to the European Union. Last year, Vietnam’s export revenue of agro-fishery-forestry products set a record high of 53.22 billion USD, up 9.3% year-on-year. However, Europe accounted for only 11.3% of its market share. This is a modest number, although the agricultural sector has optimised many advantages of the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). One of the main reasons is said to be the union’s high requirements on farm imports, while Vietnam’s agricultural production has yet to meet green growth requirements. According to the World Bank’s report, agriculture is the second highest emitter, accounting for 19% of the nation’s total gas emissions in 2020. About 48% of the sector’s emissions and more than 75% of methane emissions are from rice … [Read more...] about Vietnam develops green agriculture to increase exports to EU
1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising’s impacts on U.S.’s global strategy
Fighting boldly and bravely, the Vietnamese armed forces ground down the enemy’s strength, destroyed and damaged a lot of the enemy means of warfare, dealt a great blow to the U.S. troops on the battlefield in Vietnam, reduced the position and influence of the Saigon government and troops, and shocked Washington’s senior leaders. On March 30, 1968, General Westmoreland, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army in Vietnam arrived in Saigon to disseminate the U.S. government's policy of "De-Americanizing” the war. This policy replaced President Johnson's policy of "Americanizing" the war (Local war) which failed previously. On March 31, 1968, President Johnson announced that he would not run for presidency for the second term, as well as his decision to limit U.S. activities in Vietnam. He also ordered limitation of bombarding the North from the 20th parallel northwards (and completely stopping bombing the North since November 1, 1968) and sent negotiators to the two-party negotiation … [Read more...] about 1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising’s impacts on U.S.’s global strategy
Vietnamese peacekeepers hold lunar New Year celebration
The activities created a joyful and exhilarating atmosphere for Vietnamese peacekeepers and international friends to embark on a new year with new spirit, promises, and successes. In the New Year atmosphere, the Vietnamese peacekeeping force in UNMISS organized an activity in Tomping Base in Juba, South Sudan with the participation of a large number of guests who are commanding officers of agencies and colleagues at the mission. The event was attended by Police Commissioner of UNMISS Christine Fossen and peacekeepers of the Vietnam People’s Army and Public Security, commanding officers and personnel of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 of Vietnam. In his speech at the ceremony, Senior Colonel Le Quoc Huy, Head of the Working Group of the People's Public Security, sent best wishes to international friends and colleagues. He thanked the mission’s commanding officers, heads of agencies, and colleagues for their support to the Vietnamese peacekeeping force. He wished that in the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese peacekeepers hold lunar New Year celebration
Investment channels expected to be better this year
Economic expert Dinh Trong Thinh Last year ended with many fluctuations for investment channels due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the geopolitical conflicts, and the US Federal Reserve (FED)'s adjustments of interest rates. This year, those difficulties are forecast to remain. Economic expert Dinh Trong Thinh spoke to Vietnam News Agency about prospects of investment channels. What is your overview of the development of investment channels such as gold, real estate, and securities in 2022? 2022 had a prominent feature that at the beginning of the year all investment channels attracted a large volume of capital and saw significant growth, except for the savings deposit channel. The investment channels of gold, securities, and real estate all thrived. For instance, the real estate prices in the first six months of the year increased by about 60 per cent. For securities, stock prices in the first months of the year also increased and the VN-Index reached more than 1,600 points. … [Read more...] about Investment channels expected to be better this year