- EVN wants to import wind power from Laos, price 1,700 VND/kWh

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just asked relevant ministries, sectors and localities to comment on the policy of importing wind power from the Truong Son wind power plant from Laos to Vietnam. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, this project has a capacity of 250 MW in Bolikhamsai province of Laos, and will be put into operation in the fourth quarter of 2025. EVN proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade appraise and submit to the Prime Minister the policy of importing electricity from the Truong Son wind power plant, and supplement the planning of power lines to implement the connection. (See more)

- Amending the Law on Value Added Tax

On the morning of December 18, the National Assembly Standing Committee approved the proposal to add the Law on Value Added Tax (amended) to the 2024 Law and Ordinance Development Program. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue noted that VAT regulations are contained in many different decrees, so they need to be carefully reviewed to avoid the situation of "framework laws" and "pipe laws" (according to Tien Phong).

- A business in Ho Chi Minh City offers the highest Tet bonus of 250 million VND/person

The Binh Tan District Labor Federation (HCMC) said that so far, 70/178 enterprises with 30 or more employees in the district have informed about the plan to reward employees for the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin 2024. A business in Binh Tan District has announced a Tet bonus of up to 250 million VND/person, equal to last year's bonus (according to An Ninh Tien Te).

- Hoa Lac land price: Places with reduced prices are still unsold, places with strong increases are in high demand

The real estate market is gloomy, many Hoa Lac land investors are actively selling but cannot find buyers. However, some segments with sky-high prices still record regular transactions. (See more)

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The market is gloomy, applications for selling subdivided land are stuck at real estate centers. (Photo: Ngoc Cuong)

- The son of a senior bank executive registered to sell millions of shares.

Mr. Le Tuan Anh, son of Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank ( SeABank - code: SSB), registered to sell 2 million SSB shares from December 21, 2023 to January 19, 2024 by negotiation and/or order matching. Recently, HOSE announced that Mr. Le Tuan Anh registered to sell 2 million SSB shares but only successfully sold 1.7 million shares from November 20 to December 15 for the same purpose (according to Nguoi Lao Dong).

- Mr. Duc plans to end the continuous losses and erase all debts.

Recently, at the meeting with investors of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc (Bau Duc) informed about the plan to repay the loan and erase accumulated losses. According to Mr. Duc, in 2016, Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC owed up to 28,000 billion VND, now it still owes 6,000 billion VND. (See more)

- More than 27 million shares related to tycoon Nhan Louis left the stock exchange today.

More than 27 million TGG shares of The Golden Group Joint Stock Company, once related to Mr. Do Thanh Nhan - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Louis Holdings Joint Stock Company - will be delisted from the HoSE from today (December 18), due to violating the obligation to disclose information (according to Tien Phong).

- Having had a trillion-dollar debt cleared by the bank, Mr. Duc's company reported profits double the plan.

Gia Lai Livestock Joint Stock Company of Mr. Duc has just received a debt reduction of more than 1,400 billion VND from Eximbank. This will help Mr. Duc's Hoang Anh Gia Lai to recover its profit in 2023, thereby estimating the whole year's profit to reach 2,150 billion VND, double the plan. (See more)

- New conditions for the 131ha project of 'branded goods king' Hanh Nguyen after 15 years of silence

Having leased land since 2008, SASCO of "brand king" Johnathan Hanh Nguyen has not been able to implement the 131-hectare eco-tourism resort project in Da Lat City. Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee has just set conditions for the investor of this project. (See more)

- Vietnam's Robusta coffee prices are about to hit a historic peak

Global supply is down, Europe almost only relies on Vietnamese goods, pushing Robusta coffee prices to a 15-year high. In our country, this type of bean is also about to reach a historical peak, people are having a big harvest. (See more)

Today, December 18, the international oil price may continue to increase from last week. Brent oil price reached nearly 77 USD/barrel. WTI oil price was at 71.9 USD/barrel.

The stock market on December 18 recorded a decrease of 10.42 points for the VN-Index, down to 1,091.88 points. Banking stocks fell across the board, while most other sectors also performed poorly. In the uncertain context, investors are hesitant to pour money into the stock market.

The central exchange rate on December 18 was 23,883 VND, up 1 VND compared to the previous session. The USD price at commercial banks increased today, closing the session listed at 24,090-24,460 VND/USD (buy - sell). Meanwhile, the world USD price decreased slightly.

Gold prices today, December 18, on the world market plummeted due to the lack of many driving factors to increase prices again. SJC gold decreased by 100,000 VND/tael in the morning, then increased by 150,000 VND/tael in the afternoon in both directions.

On December 18, another Big 4 bank, BIDV, reduced its deposit interest rate for the third time since the beginning of the month. Currently, this bank's interest rate is at an unprecedented low.