Vietcap Daily - VN-Index sees slight gain of 0.2%

* Retail sales post solid growth on rising demand before Tet, strong foreign arrivals

* TDM: Conservative 2025 guidance, January results slightly trail forecast

* CTR: Slower 2025F growth due to lower number of new towers - Update

* NLG: Can Tho, Izumi City to drive 2025F growth - Update

* PVS: Further contract signings to confirm substantial M&C backlog - Update

* Market wrap: VN-Index sees slight gain of 0.2%

----------------------------------------

Market wrap: VN-Index sees slight gain of 0.2%

The VN-Index saw a slight gain of 0.2% (+1.9 pts) on Thursday to close the trading day at 1,271.5. Banks led the market, with TCB, CTG, and LPB hitting new 52-week highs, while smaller banks rebounded on reports of the Government’s >8% GDP growth target and 16% credit expansion. Throughout the index, there were 206 gainers, 233 laggards, and 77 stocks unchanged. Total trading volume declined compared to the previous trading day to USD510.5mn.

* Seven of the top ten stocks lifting the index were banks. These were TCB (+2.0%), LPB (+1.7%), VCB (+0.3%), BID (+0.5%), HDB (+1.6%), CTG (+0.4%), and MBB (+0.4%).

* Several real estate stocks fell, including VHM (-0.1%), BCM (-1.4%), VRE (-0.9%), and KDH (-0.7%). VIC (+1.0%) posted a solid gain.

* Securities company VND (+3.6%), sugar producer SBT (+5.5%), tire maker DRC (+3.2%), electricity company GEE (+4.7%), and logistics company STG (+6.7%) were among the strong gainers in various sectors.

* Large-cap laggards across sectors included milk producer VNM (-1.3%), rubber producer GVR (-0.9%), utility company GAS (-0.3%), oil & gas company BSR (-1.2%), and retailers MWG (-0.5%) and FRT (-4.9%).