Vietcap Daily - VN-Index edges up 0.1%

* Vietnam’s PMI improves at modest pace
* BWE: BWE Long An secures VND700bn bond issuance for doubling Nhi Thanh plant’s capacity with record low coupon rate
* PVS: Official EPCI#1 contract kickoff of Block B; signs another USD400mn offshore wind farm contract; signs floating oil storage agreement for Yellow Camel oil field
* Energy Sector Flash Note: National Assembly approves Amended Electricity Law, slightly positive for power stocks & PVS
* Vietnam Macro Note: National Assembly approves North-South High-Speed Railway
* Banking Sector Update: NIM to expand, asset quality to improve
* Market wrap: VN-Index edges up 0.1%

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Market wrap: VN-Index edges up 0.1%

The VN-Index edged up 0.1% (+0.8 pts) on Monday to close the trading day at 1,251.2. Throughout the index, there were far more laggards (221) than gainers (147), while 85 stocks were unchanged. Total trading volume declined compared to the previous trading day to USD468.6mn.

* In the banks sector, VCB (+0.8%), CTG (+0.3%), VPB (+0.3%), and HDB (+0.2%) gained while LPB (+2.9%) surged. BID (-0.5%), TCB (-0.4%), MBB (-0.2%), ACB (-0.2%), and STB (-0.6%) declined.

* The real estate sector performed poorly as VHM and BCM were unchanged, and VIC (-0.4%), VRE (-0.3%), KDH (-0.9%), and PDR (-1.2%) fell. SIP (+4.6%) posted a strong gain.

* Basic materials stocks did well as HPG (+0.6%), GVR (+0.5%), DGC (+0.3%), DCM (+0.4%), and DPM (+0.9%) gained.

* Some of the main stocks weighing on the index from other sectors were tech company FPT (-0.6%), utility company GAS (-0.6%), food & beverage conglomerate MSN (-0.8%), and oil & gas company PLX (-0.6%).