VN-Index Shows Resilience Amid Global Market Decline

The VN-Index, Vietnam's benchmark stock index, closed just 0.16 points lower on Wednesday, following a 7.43-point gain in the previous session. Trading volume on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange decreased by 15% to VND11.355 trillion (US$447.3 million).

Among the VN-30 basket, which includes the 30 largest capitalized stocks, 9 tickers saw gains. Notably, FPT of IT giant FPT Corporation rose 2.7%, POW of electricity producer Petrovietnam Power Corporation increased by 1.6%, and BVH of insurance company Bao Viet Holdings climbed 0.5%.

However, 14 blue chips declined. SSI of brokerage SSI Securities Corporation fell 1.2%, VHM of property giant Vinhomes slipped 1.2%, and VRE of retail real estate arm Vincom Retail closed 1.1% lower. Foreign investors were net buyers to the tune of VND355 billion, primarily purchasing FPT and TCB of private lender Techcombank.

Meanwhile, the HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, fell 0.27%, and the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market dropped 0.10%.

Globally, Asian stocks experienced a downturn on Wednesday, with currencies showing volatility as investors worried about potential tariff targets under incoming U.S. President Donald Trump. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares dropped 0.3%, Taiwanese stocks lost 1.5%, and South Korea's KOSPI declined 0.8%. Japan's Nikkei fell more than 1%, with the autos sector being the worst-performing industry group on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, dropping 3.6% due to both tariff threats and a stronger yen.

Despite the global downturn, mainland Chinese blue chips recovered from early losses to rise by 0.7%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.5%.