Viet Nam’s benchmark VN-Index could breach the 1,000 point mark in the last quarter of the year after the Q3 corporate earnings season and with investors shifting attention towards firms with hopes for full-year earnings growth.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange gained 0.72 per cent to close last week at 997.84 points.

Expectations for listed companies’ third-quarter earnings would support the domestic stock market in the short term, BIDV Securities Corporation (BSC) said in its weekly report.

Investors have begun hunting for stocks in sectors that are expected to produce positive earnings reports for the third quarter of the year.

Retail, technology, banking, brokerage, food and beverage and securities were the driving industries on the stock market last week.

Retailer Mobile World Investment Corporation shares (MWG) rose 1.2 per cent in the week.

Vietcombank shares (VCB) advanced 2.3 per cent to reach the highest price of VND82,900 per share since its debut.

Dairy producer Vinamilk shares (VNM) soared total 6.5 per cent, while PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (GAS) rose 2.1 per cent.

Banks and securities firms were also attractive sectors to foreign investors.

Another factor that is expected to cushion the stock market is the US-China trade talks, which opens on October 10.

In the last few weeks, both China and the US have signalled their willingness to cool down the trade war by imposing measures to boost bilateral trade.

This comes as good news amid worries about a global economic recession.

There was also other good news that could provide a short term boost for the market, BSC said.

Last week, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged ministries, sectors and government and local agencies to speed up the implementation of public investment projects in the remaining months of the year.

If the progress of public investment projects was accelerated during the final months of the year, it would benefit both the macro-economy and firms in the construction and building material sectors, BSC forecast.

According to the General Statistics Office, Viet Nam’s total import and export turnover was estimated at $382.72 billion in the first nine months of this year. Of which, exports reached $194.3 billion, up 8.2 per cent over the same period last year while imports saw a yearly rise of $188.42 billion.

Trade balance of goods in 9 months was estimated at $5.9 billion, GSO said.

Besides, the central banks had made great efforts to keep the exchange rate between the Vietnamese dong and the US dollar stable amid the volatility of international financial markets, enhancing the confidence of foreign investors and local exporters.

The VN-Index advanced for a third straight week with lower liquidity. However, last week’s average daily trading volume and value were still higher than a 20-day average proves capital kept flowing into the market, Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities Co (SHS) said in its report.

The movement of international markets also matches the domestic growth as bad news has waned, the company said.

Technically, the VN-Index is now in the resistance range of 995-1,005 points and if the benchmark can beat the 1,000 points this week, it means the VN-Index begins its uptrend, SHS forecast.

However, trading liquidity will be essential as it determines how much investors are interested in the market. That is why trading liquidity will be the key for the VN-Index to maintain its uptrend, SHS said. – VNS