Stocks in Vietnam Hit All-time High

Vietnam’s stocks extended gains to a record high of 1,929 in early Friday trade, poised for an eighth straight weekly advance. Sentiment was buoyed by recent Moody’s upgrade of the country’s credit outlook to “positive” from “stable,” while affirming its Ba2 rating. Meantime, the central bank pledged support for production and business activity to help achieve the government’s five-year goal of double-digit growth, even as policymakers held the 2026 inflation target at 4.5% amid mounting price pressures from the Iran war. In the U.S., equities ended higher overnight, supported by optimism that the ongoing summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will help ease global trade tensions. Gains were led by commercial services, process industries, and financials, though weakness in energy minerals and consumer durables capped strength. Top movers included Power Generation (1.7%), Vietnam Rubber Group (1.4%), Masan Consumer Corp. (0.8%), and Vietnam Airlines (0.7%).

VN increased to an all-time high of 1937.00 Index Points. Over the past 4 weeks, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Stock Index gained 6.93%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 46.62%.

FTSE Russell has reclassified Vietnam to emerging market status, pending an interim review in March 2026, with the change set to take effect on September 21, 2026. The move, long anticipated by investors, could channel billions of dollars into one of Southeast Asia’s best-performing stock markets. The index provider cited Vietnam’s significant progress in improving market access and aligning with global standards since it was added to the watchlist in 2018. Key reforms include the removal of full pre-funding requirements on equity trades for foreign investors, a major step toward the upgrade. FTSE Russell said the move would enhance transparency, reduce counterparty risk, and boost investor confidence. Vietnam’s Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang called the decision “clear evidence of the country’s sound development path and growing capacity to integrate deeply into the global financial system.”