Its currency deposit and issuer ratings were lowered from Ba2 to Ba3, the same level as several other banks in Vietnam. Its outlook is down from stable to negative. "The downgrade of Techcombank's ratings and assessments reflects Moody's expectations that the stress faced by Vietnam's real estate sector will negatively impact the bank's standalone credit strength, given its high exposure to the sector," the ratings agency said in a release. The downgrade is not related to recent U.S. bank failures and events at Credit Suisse Group AG, it claimed. As of the end of December loans to the property and construction sectors represented 29% of Techcombank's gross loans. The bank also had exposure to the sectors in the form of corporate bonds, which made up 6% of its total assets. Some of its exposure to the property sector were of significant size relative to its tangible common equity and could bring volatility to its profitability and capital should they become problem assets. … [Read more...] about Moody’s lowers Techcombank ratings
Ubl zindagi account profit rate 2022
Central bank to cut refinance rate in next quarter: UOB
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) anticipates the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will cut its refinance rate in the second quarter this year by 100 basis points to 5.00%. “With the US Fed poised to end its rate hike cycle as soon as May 2023 and that domestic inflation rates are showing some tentative signs of turning, we anticipate that the SBV will cut its refinance rate sometime in the second quarter this year by 100bps to 5.00%,” UOB’s report emphasised. According to the bank's newly-released report on global economic outlook, that could be a one-off move, and more rate cuts may be on tap if domestic price pressures ease off further, although this is highly uncertain for now. From September to November last year, the SBV embarked on a flurry of policy moves given aggressive US Fed interest rate hikes, USD strength, and inflation pressures. It then unexpectedly raised its key interest rates by 100 basis points on … [Read more...] about Central bank to cut refinance rate in next quarter: UOB
Retail stocks drop amid economic downturn and high interest rates
A customer shops for mobile phones at a Mobile World store. For Mobile World (MWG), Q4 profit after tax dropped sharply by 60.4% year-on-year to 619 billion VND, a multi-year low. (Photo: thegioididong.com) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Retail stocks have dropped significantly due to the decline in business results in the context of the global economic recession and high interest rates. Mobile World (MWG) and Digiworld (DGW) are both hovering around the long-term bottom with a drop of more than 50% from the peak. Petrosetco (PET) has been almost flat since the beginning of February while Petrosetco Distribution JSC (PSD) is finding the bottom. This duo has dropped by 60-65% of the market price compared to their peak. The Phu Nhuan Jewelry Group (PNJ) and FPT Retail (FRT) have been struggling since the end of January. These two stocks have fallen by 16% and 38% respectively from the peak. The recent plunge in retail stocks partly came from the decline in business results. … [Read more...] about Retail stocks drop amid economic downturn and high interest rates
Generali Group touts best-ever operating results in 2022
The information comes from Generali Vietnam’s latest release issued March 16, citing that at a meeting chaired by president Andrea Sironi, the Assicurazioni Generali Board of Directors approved the consolidated financial statements and the parent company’s draft financial statements for the year 2022. Along with this, the group’s gross written premiums rose by 1.5 per cent to $86.7 billion, thanks to the positive performance of the Property and Casualty (P&C) segment, led by the non-motor line. Generali Vietnam has contributed to the group’s performance with strong growth after 12 years of operation The operating result climbed by 11.2 per cent to reach $6.89 billion, thanks to positive growth in the Life, P&C, and Holdings and other businesses segments. The Life segment grew strongly by 25.1 per cent to reach $3.73 billion, reflecting excellent technical profitability, which was also confirmed by the new business margin at 5.35 per cent – up 0.86 … [Read more...] about Generali Group touts best-ever operating results in 2022
Careful action required to curb inflation threat
The maximum short-term lending rate for borrowers in some sectors will be reduced, photo Le Toan The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) last week took bold steps to soften the regulatory interest rates for the first time in two years, in a bid to support the capital-thirsty local business community. The central bank issued two decisions on reducing key interest rates by 0.5 to 1 per cent, which took effect on March 15. Under Decision No.313/QD-NHNN, the rediscount interest rate will be revised down from 4.5 per cent per year to 3.5 per cent. Overnight lending rates in interbank electronic payments and loans to cover capital shortfalls in clearing payments of the SBV for credit institutions will be dropped from 7 per cent per year to 6 per cent. Particularly, the refunding interest rate will remain unchanged at 6 per cent on an annual basis. Meanwhile, under Decision No.314/QD-NHNN, the maximum short-term lending rate in VND of credit institutions for borrowers to meet capital needs … [Read more...] about Careful action required to curb inflation threat
Agribank going from strength to strength
In the 35 years since its establishment, Agribank now has the largest countrywide retail network, with nearly 2,300 branches and transaction offices. Agribank has a network system twice as large as the next biggest bank and is the only commercial bank with a presence in nine out of the 13 island districts. Agribank going from strength to strength In addition, Agribank also has the largest number of employees in the banking system, with about 40,000 people. The wide coverage is a testament to Agribank’s mission to work alongside the agricultural sector, farmers, and rural communities, despite the expense of maintaining this large network and number of employees. Agribank boasts a profound understanding of the market and its customers and their communities. The bank has also set another record with the number of its customers. On average, each Agribank credit officer is responsible for approximately 800 customers. In some localities, each credit offer is responsible … [Read more...] about Agribank going from strength to strength
Pricing structure not enough to clinch nation’s energy goals
A group of solar power ventures that did not make the 2021 feed-in tariff deadline remain idle and developers want fresh solutions Nearly 40 renewable power investors last week asked the prime minister to consider addressing pricing-related inadequacies in renewables development. The joint letter said that the impact of the pandemic and expiry of the country’s previous feed-in tariffs (FiTs) has resulted in 84 renewable power projects, with total capacity of some 4,600MW, falling behind schedule and failing to achieve commercial operation. Among these, 28 wind farms and six solar farms with the combined capacity of more than 2,000MW, which have cost an estimated $3.6 billion are eligible to connect to the national power grid, are still waiting for a suitable pricing mechanism. Six solar power ventures have been waiting for such a mechanism for over two years. The developers last week expressed concerns that they may go bankrupt as the government’s latest pricing band fix are … [Read more...] about Pricing structure not enough to clinch nation’s energy goals
Land prices in the southern provinces fall sharply
A land plot for sale in Binh Duong Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Land plot prices in HCM City and neighbouring provinces such as Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An decreased by 10-25 per cent compared to early this year due to the central bank’s tight monetary policy for real estate lending. Many investors borrowed money to invest in property in previous years, hoping to make profits, but instead suffered losses as tightened credit drove up interest rates and hit liquidity. In 2021, Tran Van Nam from HCM City bought a land plot for VND5 billion (US$208,000) in the southern province of Dong Nai, hoping to resell it within a year for a profit of hundreds of millions of dong. But in late 2022, when bank interest rates went up, he had to sell it for a loss of over VND800 million. At that time, many brokers told him that land plot prices had kept increasing from 2016 to 2021 and it will keep increasing in coming years, and so he bought the land plot hoping for a profit. But he was … [Read more...] about Land prices in the southern provinces fall sharply
HDBank gets 2 prestigious awards for sustainable finance, international payments
Tran Hoai Nam, deputy general director of HDBank, receives the award from J.P Morgan Chase. — Photo courtesy of HDBank HDBank has won two more coveted international awards adjudged by leading global banking and financial experts for meeting stringent criteria in terms of total assets, net profit, growth index, business orientation, and others. It won The Asset Triple A Award for best bank for sustianable finance in 2022 from The Asset. It also received the 2022 Elite Quality Recognition Award from J.P. Morgan Chase Bank for its MT202 EUR Rate, underlining its exceptional performance in international payment services. The awards continue to underscore HDBank's status in the domestic and international financial markets and its sustainable growth and role as an important capital mobilisation channel, it said. According to The Asset Triple A Awards jury, HDBank has always been at the forefront of environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities - one of the most important … [Read more...] about HDBank gets 2 prestigious awards for sustainable finance, international payments
Supporting the digital economy space
The interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and other central banks that began to significantly accelerate in the second half of 2022 have impacted the tech industry and investors in significant ways. These hikes are expected to continue, at least in the short term, until the central banks are satisfied that inflation is under control or lose their nerve. When that happens is anyone’s guess. Eric Johnson, counsel at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP This rapidly changing financial environment has made it more difficult for digital economy companies, especially those that are currently not profitable, to raise money in both public and private markets. Many investors have adopted a wait-and-see approach until the situation becomes clearer, and are revisiting the assumptions behind the sky-high valuations that many tech companies previously commanded. The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank in the US has sent a shockwave through the tech and venture capital … [Read more...] about Supporting the digital economy space