Derivatives trading liquidity hits records in FebruaryMarket trading liquidity of the derivatives market reached a record high in February since it started operating in August 2017, according to the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX). The trading figures were up 51.37 per cent and 51.04 per cent, respectively, compared to the recorded numbers in January and they were the highest trading data since the derivatives market opened seven months ago. Among securities companies, proprietary trading volume accounted for 1.75 per cent of the market total trading volume, lower than January. During the two trading sessions on February 5 and 6, when the VN-Index decreased more than 93 points, trading of the derivatives market was quite active. The market trading volume on February 6 set a new record with 39,311 contracts being traded, valued at VND3.92 trillion.

Ly Hoang Nam, Boluda-Purkiss win first match in Indian FuturesLy Hoang Nam and Spanish partner Carlos Boluda-Purkiss came from behind to win their first-round doubles match at the India F2 Futures tennis tournament in Kolkata yesterday. Ly Hoang Nam and his partner advance to the second round of the India F2 Futures. The No.3 seed pair took 57 minutes to beat Eqbal Ishaque and Nenwani Anurag of the host 2-6, 6-1, 10-4. They will play wildcard holder Shanmugam Abhinav Sanjeev and Sunish Dhruv, another Indian pair, in the next round. The Vietnamese will next face No.1 seed and World No.18 Yanki Erel.

Korean choreographer to perform Truyen Kieu-based danceChoreographer Chun Yoo-oh from the Republic of Korea (RoK) will stage a contemporary dance based on Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu), a masterpiece by the great poet Nguyen Du, at the HCM City Opera House this weekend. Korean choreographer and dancer Chun Yoo-Oh performs in the dance Promise to 800 (Photo courtesy of HBSO)“I admire Nguyen Du and his work,” said Chun, adding that she had known of Truyen Kieu for a long time but had only recently read it in Korean. Hung said: “Chun asked the dancers to take two months to read Truyen Kieu. The show will also feature People’s Artist Thanh Hoai, who will perform ca tru (ceremonial singing), and the Korean traditional vocalist Kang Kwon-soon. Truyen Kieu will be presented in two shows on March 10 and 11 at the Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1.

In Vietnam 4.5m lack clean waterViet Nam must exploit its water resources more efficiently if it is to ensure the remaining 4.5 million local people without tap water gain access, while at the same time the growing population and economy put additional strain on water capacity. However, it should consider allowing private sector actors to participate in protecting and supplying the water resources to support effective water usage, he said. Tống Ngọc Thanh, head of the ministry’s National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation, said raising public awareness of the importance of water resources was identified as one possible solution. The UN, in co-operation with the Government of Việt Nam and water supply companies, developed plans for water treatment, safe storage and water security, aiming for a fully functioning distribution system that would allow the entire population to access safe water resources, he said. If current trends persist, water quality in Viet Nam would continue to degrade over the coming decades, further endangering human health and ecosystems, contributing to water scarcity and constraining sustainable development.

Nine defendants involved in Da River pipeline ruptures stand trialThe Hanoi People’s Court opened on March 5 the first-instance trial for nine defendants accused of being responsible for the 18 successive ruptures of the Da River water pipelines in the capital city. Hoang The Trung, former Director of the management board of the Da River water supply system investment and construction project, at the trialThe defendants include Hoang The Trung (former Director of the management board of the Da River water supply system investment and construction project), Nguyen Van Khai (former Deputy Director of the management board), and Truong Tran Hien (former head of the materials and equipment division of the management board). According to the indictment of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Da River water supply project, invested by the Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Vinaconex), was built from 2004 to April 2009. From February 4, 2012 to October 2, 2016, 23 fiberglass-reinforced composite pipelines were broken for 18 times, forcing the Vinaconex Water Supply company – the operator of the pipeline system – to spend more than 16.6 billion VND (732,000 USD) to fix the broken lines. The inspection conclusion on April 15, 2015 confirmed that the ruptures were caused by violations in the pipeline production process and the management and monitoring of the pipeline construction.

Shares slide on large-cap stocksVietnam’s shares slid on March 5 as large-cap stocks performed poorly when investors sold in pursuit of short-term profits. Over 277.68 million shares were traded on the HOSE with the total trading value of more than 9.74 trillion VND (428.78 million USD). The HNX Index on the northern market was down 2.74 points, or 2.14 percent, to settle at 125.51 points. About 70 million shares, worth roughly 1.29 trillion VND (56.76 million USD), were traded on the market. Most of large-cap stocks in the VN30, the 30 largest ones by market capitalisation, plunged, including Vietcombank (VCB), Sacombank (STB), Vingroup (VIC), VietinBank (CTG), Hau Giang Pharmaceutical (DHG), and PV Gas (GAS).

Parkson’s demise and the rise of competitorsParkson’s demise in Vietnam marks an important transition in the retail sector due to changing shopping behaviours and the rise of shopping malls invested by competitors like Lotte, AEON Mall, and Vincom. Parkson’s sunsetSavich Aniyah, a 51-year-old businessman from Malaysia, expressed grief after the close of a series of Parkson’s stores in Vietnam, particularly Parkson Flemington. According to Savich Aniyah, living far from his hometown, he felt consoled by seeing projects invested by his countrymen, including Berjaya's large-scale real estate projects or Parkson's shopping centres. The second is the transition from the department store model to the shopping mall model, as signified by the appearance of Lotte, AEON Mall, Saigon Centre Takashimaya Mall, and Vincom. These shopping malls not only become leading destinations for shopaholics, but also meet all demands of families, from children to adults.

$158 mln energy efficiency project launchedThe Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on March 5 launched a 158 million USD energy project to help key industries and enterprises with energy saving. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on March 5 launched a 158 million USD energy project to help key industries and enterprises with energy saving (Illustrative image)The “Vietnam Energy Efficiency for Industrial Enterprises” project (VEEIE) aims to promote efficient energy use and contribute to the country’s overall goals of energy efficiency and conservation, according to Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong. “According to the Vietnam National Energy Efficiency Programme (VEEP), the country has a lot of room for more energy-saving action,” the deputy minister said. The Department of Energy Saving & Sustainable Development under the MoIT proposed the Government increase budget spending for energy saving projects in the period 2018-20. Vuong highlighted the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in improving energy efficiency in the country.

Steel association to petition against US’s import restriction if necessaryThe Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) has said it and Vietnamese steel firms may submit the case related to the US’s plan to restrict the import of steel and aluminum products to the WTO, if necessary. The VSA and steel enterprises hope that the Vietnamese Government, through negotiations on the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, will ask the US side not to apply the above-mentioned import restriction. Vietnamese imports accounted for a negligible share of the total US steel and aluminium imports, the department noted. Of the exports, ASEAN countries imported 59.3 percent of Vietnam’s steel, while the US imported 11.1 percent. The association has predicted a year-on-year increase of 20-22 percent in steel production this year.-VNA

Green buildings gain ascendancy in real estate marketVietNamNet Bridge - The highlight of the Vietnam real estate market in 2017 was the boom of ‘green’ construction. However, it is not the modern design and utilities, but the LEED Platinum certificate on green works which have impressed tenants. More office buildings are expected to receive green work certification in the time to come. Some other apartment blocks have also joined the ‘green trend’, including Diamond Lotus Riverside developed by Phuc Khang Group. However, the number of certified green works remains modest, mostly because of the high costs for construction and operation.

Vietnam to join world’s leading travel trade show in BerlinA Vietnamese delegation will attend the world’s leading travel trade show ITB Berlin which will take place in the German capital city from March 7-11. Foreigners visited Vietnam's booth at ITB Berlin 2017The delegation, led by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, includes representatives from local tourism departments, the Hanoi Promotion Agency, and travel firms. It plans to organise a press conference to introduce visitors to Vietnam’s tourism market, participate in the organising board’s activities, and have working sessions with international partners, including the ITB organising board and TUI Group - the world’s leading tourism group. This year’s ITB Berlin is expected to attract more than 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries and welcome over 160,000 visitors. From March 13-15, Vietnam will attend the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition in Russia’s capital city.-VNA

Quang Nam reviews tourism projects on Cham IslandThe central province of Quang Nam is reviewing tourism projects on Cu Lao Cham (Cham Island), a tourism magnet in Tan Hiep commune of Hoi An township, following reports on the environmental impacts of some construction activities. The provincial administration requested Cu Lao Cham Trade-Investment-Tourism Company, which is building a resort on the island, to publicise the plan for the 25.88ha project and inform local authorities about the construction progress. [Photos: Views of Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve]The firm was also told to stay updated on UNESCO’s information and planning for the world biosphere reserve so that its project won’t influence Cu Lao Cham. Agencies and the People’s Committee of Hoi An city also have to review the dossiers of investment projects on Cu Lao Cham. He added Quang Nam authorities and Cu Lao Cham residents want to develop tourism in a sustainable manner.-VNA

Banks report huge profits, bank shares’ golden days returnVietNamNet Bridge - Investors, impressed by banks’ high profits, have been rushing to buy bank shares, pushing prices up. Bank shares' golden days returnIn 2017 Vietnam commercial banks reported huge profits of trillions of dong. As expected, with advantage in huge assets, three state-owned banks were the most profitable banks in 2017. As banks all have reported big profits, the bank share price increase was expected. Other banks, Military Bank and Asia Commercial Bank, also saw impressive share price increases of 84 percent and 71 percent, respectively.

Only one professorial candidate found not meeting standardsVietNamNet Bridge - Only one candidate has been found not to meet the standards for a professor title in 2017. Only one candidate from the chemistry professorship sub-council was found as unable to meet standards. Do Tran Cat, former secretary general of the State Professorship Council, once commented that only 30 percent of professors/associate professors meet international standards. “Ironically, the professors who don’t satisfy international standards, don’t have research experience and internationally published articles, are assigned to judge the candidates meeting international standards,” he said. RELATED NEWSFive men named professors at young ageOver 1,200 professors, associate professors appointed in final sprintThanh Mai

Vietnam in Group B of AFC Women’s Futsal ChampionshipVietnam are in Group B of the second AFC Women’s Futsal Championship after a draw held on March 5 in Kuala Lumpur. Vietnam are in Group B at AFC Women’s Futsal Championship (Photo: plo.vn)The team is in the same group with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei. Reigning champions Iran will start their title defence against Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in Group D.Thailand who finished third in the 2015 championship and host this year’s event will face Hong Kong, Indonesia and Macao in Group A.Japan, the runners-up, are set to play China, Bahrain and Lebanon in Group C.Winners and runners-up from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. The tournament will be held from May 2 to May 12 in Bangkok.-VNA