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Plunges to three-year low
The VN-Index hit a three-year low on Nov. 26, while the Hanoi market hit its lowest level ever, despite the Government’s announcement late in the previous trading day that the nation’s inflation rate had slowed for a second consecutive month.
The Index on Nov. 26 tumbled 8.59 points to close at 311.74, a loss of 2.68 percent. Trading volume reached 11.74 million shares for a total turnover of 352.5 billion VND (21.4 million USD).
The day’s trading saw 129 losers and 27 gainers. Demand for shares has fallen sharply this week. Trading value averaged at 277 billion VND per day over the first three days of the week, while it was 483 billion VND per day during the first half of November, according to HCM Stock Exchange data.
Activity continued to be sluggish in most codes, except for Sacombank (STB), with orders for 2 million shares. Some major stocks hit remarkable lows on the day, with FPT, PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Pha Lai Thermal Power (PPC) all touching the floor of the regulated trading band.
Foreign investors were net buyers with 2.2 million shares bought and 1.7 million units sold. Net purchases value reached 57 billion VND (3.5 million USSD) for the day.
There was a possibility that the VN-Index would fall to the 300 point mark, said Kim Eng Securities analyst Ken Tai.
“It’s hard for the domestic stock market to rally in the short term,” said Tai, pointing out that local investors were closely following international developments.
Tai said the fate of Citigroup would have great impact on the world financial system, and added that he expected the US government would soon pass a rescue plan for the automotive industry, easing a burden the US economy.
Declining world steel and petroleum prices were likely to affect the shares of firms that rely on these materials for production, he added.
EuroCapital Securities said in a report that, with the banking and property markets still facing difficulties, the impositions of new income and capital gains taxes on securities at the begining of 2009 would be further discouraging to investors.
In Hanoi on Nov. 26, the HASTC-Index hit its lowest level ever, ending the day at 99.56 points, a massive 5.4 percent loss. About 7.65 million shares changed hands on a turnover of nearly 197 billion VND (12 million USD).
The northern market saw 121 losers and 25 winners. Most active shares were Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), with 1.4 million shares traded, and Kim Long Securities (KLS), with 1.2 million. Both fell sharply.
Tai expected the HASTC-Index to hold steady between 98 and 104 points, but predicted it could plunge to as low as 89.
VNA
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