The Vietnam Export-Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Vietnam Eximbank) has officially joined GlobePass, an alliance network of financial institutions in the Asia-Pacific region, to raise its prestige and service quality for both domestic and foreign customers. Eximbank made the announcement in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8, saying it was the first bank in Vietnam to join such a network. GlobePass... 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said local fuel traders had chosen the wrong moment to raise pump prices during the Tet Lunar New Year holiday last month, raising doubts about their motive. The price hike on February 21, the final day of the Tet holiday, was not timely and caught local consumers off guard, the ministry said Wednesday. The ministry however rejected speculation that the increase... 

The State Bank of Vietnam has ordered branches nationwide to inspect lending and deposit activities at commercial banks to make sure they abide by interest rate regulations. According to the central bank, some lenders are offering bonus interest rates for deposits and charging extra fees on loans. Violators have to be reported to the central bank by March 9, said the State Bank in a statement. In... 

The real estate market in Vietnam’s largest city is looking to perform better in this year’s second quarter. “Vietnam’s real estate market is expected to bounce back in 2010 after the global financial crisis. However, clear recovery will begin only from the second quarter in Ho Chi Minh City,” said Luong Tri Thin, chairman of Dat Xanh Real Estate Construction and Services Joint Stock Company. “Potential... 

Macroeconomic fundamentals remain decisive factors for market performance and investors’ behaviour in March, writes SMEs Securities Company’s research and investment director Nguyen Viet Hung. The market in February was fairly inactive, following January’s trend, bouncing between 480-500 points during most trading sessions. Liquidity was still a big concern and the situation is getting worse....