Stocks set to break all-time recordVietnamese stocks are expected to rise further with the benchmark VN-Index forecast to surpass its all-time peak of 1,170 in 2007 on rising investor confidence in the market outlook, analysts said. The southern market index gained 4.07 percent in three sessions last week. According to Chung, Vietnam’s stock market is a small frontier market, which is strongly affected by the fluctuations of the world stock market. In March, the VN-Index may move up to reach 1,182 points to a maximum of 1,225 points, Chung forecast. According to Bao Viet Securities Company (BVSC), large-cap stocks will likely extend gains early next week, supporting the overall market.

SCIC to sell stake in Binh Minh Plastic JSCThe State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) plans to sell nearly 30 percent of its stake in Binh Minh Plastic JSC or 24.1 million shares on March 9 on the HCM Stock Exchange. The bidding price must be above both the starting level and the daily decreasing band of Binh Minh Plastic Company’s share price on March 9. If investors forecast the required bidding price as unreasonable compared to their expectations, then they can cancel their bidding by 4pm on March 8. Investors must deposit at least 10 percent of their purchase value based on the starting bidding price. Binh Minh Plastic JSC is listed on the HCM Stock Exchange with code BMP.

Viettel, US company cooperate to develop 3G/4G devices in VietnamM1 Communication Limited Liability Company of the Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) has become one of the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) receiving permission to access leading mobile technologies of the US’s Qualcomm Inc. Nguyen Dinh Chien, Viettel’s Deputy General Director, said the partnership will help the group realise its goal to become a world leading original equipment manufacturer by 2020. It aims to manufacture all the equipment by 2020, turning Vietnam into one of the three largest suppliers of telecoms equipment worldwide. Viettel’s chartered capital on January 5, 2018, was 121.5 trillion VND (5.35 billion USD). The capital will be increased to 300 trillion VND during 2015-2020.-VNA

US naval ships to visit Da NangA group of ships of the US navy will visit the central city of Da Nang from March 5 to 9 at the permission of the Vietnamese government. The USS John S. McCain ​docked at Tien Sa Port in Da ​Nang for a friendship visit in 2016The group comprises of the aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON, the guided missile cruiser USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN and the destroyer USS WAYNE E. MEYER.-VNA

Animal health agency warns of possible new bird flu outbreaksThe Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has warned of a high risk of the return of avian influenza in Vietnam after the epidemic was put under control for a long period of time. A veterinary worker fumigates a chicken farmThe department said one hotbed of A/H5N6 bird flu virus had been reported recently in Dai Ban commune of An Duong district, northern Hai Phong city. The department urged localities to take the initiative in bird flu prevention, crack down on poultry smuggling, and keep a close watch on local situation in order to timely respond to any outbreak. Meanwhile, foot-and-mouth and blue-ear diseases are also likely to break out among livestock that are unvaccinated or transported to former hotbeds. The animal health agency called on vulnerable localities to augment monitoring, vaccination and control of livestock transportation and slaughtering to minimize risks of disease outbreak and spread.-VNA

Made-in-Vietnam varieties cover 59 percent of rice fieldsAs many as 4.6 million hectares of land, or 59 percent of total rice area in Vietnam, have been cultivated with domestically-made varieties, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta regionIn the Mekong Delta region alone, the varieties made by Vietnamese scientists have been grown on 77 percent of the total rice area. The productivity of the new varieties is higher than old ones by an average 10 percent, equivalent to an addition 1.65 million tonnes of rice or over 8 trillion VND per year. In 2018, the MARD will promote technology research and transfer to serve the sector’s reform and the building of new-style rural areas in the 2018-2025 period. In 2017, Vietnam exported about 6 million tonnes of rice, over 1 million tonnes higher than last year’s figure.

Interest in VN food, beverage sectorThe food and beverage sector remains a highly attractive one for both foreign and domestic players, many of whom have announced expansion plans. To mark its fifth year in Viet Nam, US beverage giant Starbucks opened a store in Da Nang in January, its 34th in the country. While never disclosing details of the company’s business in Viet Nam, Starbucks boss in the country have always claimed significant growth and that Viet Nam remains a highly promising market. Asian fast food chain Jollibee also has expansion plans in the country. Red Wok will also support the restaurant chain areas like financial management, human resources, IT, marketing and market development.

Vietnam exported 353,000 tons of cashew nuts in 2017The cashew nut export turnover was even higher than the vegetable & fruit, coffee, rice and pepper turnover. This was the 12th consecutive year Vietnam ranked first in the world in cashew nut export. It is expected that cashew nuts would amount to 29 percent of the dry nut market by 2021, above walnuts. The volume of cashew nuts Vietnam plans to export in 2018 would be 53,000 tons lower, worth $500 million. The volume of cashew nuts Vietnam plans to export in 2018 would be 53,000 tons lower, worth $500 million.

Vietnam to meet Thailand at AFF futsal eventVietnam are in Group B of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship 2018, according to the event’s draw. A Vietnamese futsal player (in red) competes in an international tournament. Vietnam are in Group B of the AFF Futsal Championship 2018. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Indonesia on December 3-11 but will clash with the AFF Cup, so hosts Indonesia have proposed to the AFF to change the time of the AFF futsal event. The AFF futsal tournament’s official time will be announced soon.

Youngsters strives to promote nation’s historyNowadays, research into traditional culture and the country’s historical works have attracted the attention of youngsters. With unique and creative ways, a number of youngsters have brought the nation’s historical and cultural values closer to other people. Viet Su Kieu Hung (Vietnamese Epic History), a group of writing enthusiasts, share a passion for promoting Vietnamese history by recreating battles, significant historical figures and stories. The Vietnam Centre and the Vietnamese Epic History are only two among many groups of youngsters who have great passion with the nation’s history. Among many ideas about Vietnamese history, the youngsters’ projects have helped many people have a deeper understanding and greater love about the mother land’s ancient culture.

Vietnam’s property market expected to growAnalysts expect the real estate market, especially the residential land segment, to continue to grow solidly this year thanks to huge infrastructure works in many places around Vietnam accompanied by a raft of property developments. The average price in the central districts is around 300 million VND (13,500 USD) per square metre. This saw property prices and demand rise sharply, especially in Lien Chieu district. The situation is much the same in the Mekong Delta, where the signs for the property market are optimistic. In Hung Phu district, prices skyrocketed from 3 million VND (140 USD) per square metre to 7 million - 10 million VND.

Government focuses on divestment in oil and gas sectorVietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petro Vietnam or PVN) plans to reduce its ownership of Petro Vietnam Gas Joint Stock Company (PV Gas) from the current 97 per cent to 65 per cent. The PV Gas divestment is expected to attract many large investors who would be eager to buy into a company that reportedly contribute 30 per cent of PVN’s profits. At an interaction with the media in late January PV Gas chairman Lê Như Linh said the divestment would be done very carefully to identify appropriate strategic shareholders. By 2019 PVN will also have to entirely divest its stake in PVI Holdings, Phước An Port Investment and Exploitation Oil and Gas JSC, Green Indochina Development JSC, SSG Real Estate JSC, Petro Vietnam Trade Union Finance JSC, Petro Vietnam Construction joint Stock Corporation, and Petro Vietnam Maintenance and Repair JSC. The Government has instructed PVN to retain its current ownership in some other subsidiaries and associate companies such as Petro Vietnam Technical Services Corporation, the Vietnam Russia Joint Venture Vietsopetro and Petro Vietnam Drilling and Well Services Corporation.

Binh Son refiner to trade on UPCoM in MarchBinh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company (BSR) will trade shares on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) with code BSR on March 1. The IPO attracted more than 4,000 investors, placing bids for nearly 652 million shares – 2.7 times the number of shares offered for the IPO. BSR earned $244 million from the IPO at the average selling price of VND23,043 per share. The company will sell 49 per cent of its charter capital to the strategic investor and 6.5 million shares to its employees at the preferential price level. The State will reduce its ownership in BSR to 43 per cent from the previous 100 per cent.

Factories, farms arise on upper Gieng riverVietNamNet Bridge - A delegation of scientists and Binh Thuan provincial officials met in Dong Nai province at a conference in early February to discuss solutions to settle pollution in the adjacent area of Binh Thuan and Dong Nai provinces. The Gieng river has been polluted for a long time because of waste water from alcohol, wheat factories, pig farms and production workshops in Dong Nai province. As a result, Binh Thuan’s people living on the lower course of Gieng river do not have clean water for daily life and production. The Gieng river has been polluted for a long time because of waste water from alcohol, wheat factories, pig farms and production workshops in Dong Nai province. In 2015, mass fish deaths occurred on Gieng River.

Samsung Galaxy S9 focuses on the cameraNew and improved camera capabilities are the main thrust of Samsung's pitch for its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and larger S9+. That may make marketing the S9 a challenge since the phone's design also strongly resembles that of the existing S8. It now features two camera lenses on its rear, providing different fields of view and allowing photo backgrounds to be digitally blurred. Sony's Xperia XZ Premium phone added a similar feature last year, but Samsung says its version is "more usable". While Sony relies on users pressing a button at exactly the right moment, Samsung's S9 auto-triggers the function when motion is detected in a chosen part of the screen.