Dubai’s main commodities exchange is preparing to launch a same-day settlement gold contract on Monday, seeking to strengthen the emirate’s role in bullion trading as investors, dealers and refineries demand faster execution, tighter price certainty and reliable access to physical delivery. The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, part of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, will introduce the Gold Spot T+0 Contract for bullion dealers, refineries, brokers, clearing members […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai MENA mergers and acquisitions are expected to recover only gradually after war-driven volatility hit confidence, even as bankers say the region’s strategic deal pipeline remains alive. Bank of America expects activity lost during the first half of the year to take months, rather than days or weeks, to return, with transactions delayed by the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel. The bank’s […]
By R. Suryamurthy India’s economy is supposedly doing remarkably well. Growth remains among the fastest in the world. Stock markets continue to flirt with record highs. Billionaires are multiplying. Airports are expanding. Bullet trains are advancing. Defence exports are reaching new milestones. The nation is speaking confidently about becoming a $10 trillion economy and a […]
Washington and Tehran have published the text of an interim agreement signed by their presidents to halt a wider Middle East war, even as President Donald Trump warned that the United States could resume strikes and target Iranian officials if Tehran failed to meet its commitments. The 14-point memorandum, signed on Wednesday by Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian, extends an earlier ceasefire for 60 days and opens […]
Gulf economies are forecast to stage a sharp rebound in 2027 after a conflict-driven contraction this year, as energy exports recover, travel demand returns and business confidence improves across the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. The latest ICAEW-Oxford Economics Economic Insight report projects GCC gross domestic product to shrink 2.4 per cent in 2026, before expanding 8.1 per cent in 2027. The forecast marks one of the starkest […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Aramco is considering the sale of a stake in its sulphur business as the state-controlled energy group expands a wider drive to unlock cash from infrastructure assets and support Saudi Arabia’s investment-heavy economic transformation. The potential transaction, known internally as Project Yellowstone, could raise as much as $7 billion and would cover assets linked to sulphur storage and export terminals. Aramco invited […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 June 2026 – Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia, organized by Diversified, announces its 2026 conference program ahead of the fourteenth edition of the event, taking place 2–4 September at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. Free to attend to all registered visitors, this year’s program brings leading voices from the industry and across technology and policy to address the defining challenges and opportunities shaping seafood’s future across Asia and beyond.
Consumer Trust & Market Dynamics
A session titled Seafood in the Spotlight: Trust. Taste. Tomorrow’s Consumer will present findings from a GlobeScan bi-annual survey commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), tracking consumer attitudes across 20+ global markets. Fresh from its debut at Seafood Expo Global in April, the research lands in Singapore at a critical moment. Attendees will explore how rising sustainability expectations, cost-of-living pressures and shifting retail dynamics are reshaping purchasing decisions and what it takes to build durable consumer trust.
The most pressing issues facing the Asian shrimp trade will be discussed in a session around rebalancing export-dependent supply as demand and price signals shift across major markets. Amid reduced China import pull, elevated US tariffs and uneven farm output trends, these forces are already reshaping trade flows, pricing power and production planning decisions and will determine which Asian producers can protect margins and maintain market access in 2026–2027.
Innovation & Technology
A panel of industry insiders will discuss the rapid rise of recirculating aquaculture systems across the region in RAS Fish Farming: Why is Asia Leading the Way. The panel will deliver an honest assessment of real-world challenges alongside compelling results already being achieved in markets across Asia, and what this leadership position means for the future of sustainable fish production worldwide.
A session around Asia’s growing demand for seafood processing will discuss how advanced automation, productivity gains and a sharper focus on consumer trends are significantly changing the industry across Asia. Challenging market conditions are driving the industry to rethink the future of the processing environment, with innovative tools and precise systems now enabling processors to optimize resource utilization and promote sustainability to drive maximum profit. The session features Marcel Franz, Managing Director of BAADER Asia and Nils Rabe, Global Sales Director Fish at BAADER.
Eric Enno Tamm, CEO of ThisFish Inc. will map the practical and transformative applications of AI across seafood supply chains in The Definitive Guide to AI & the Tuna Value Chain. From machine learning and computer vision to generative AI and AI agents, Tamm will outline how these technologies are already reshaping operations and offer a forward-looking vision of what an AI-optimized tuna value chain could look like from boat to plate.
Food Integrity & Digital Resilience
FAO GLOBEFISH convenes a timely session on Aquatic Food Fraud: Mislabeling, Market Demand and Consumer Trust. Drawing on FAO’s recent technical paper on food fraud in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the session will examine a problem of significant scale: up to 20% of fisheries and aquaculture products may be mislabeled globally, with fraud particularly prevalent in processed products, restaurants and catering. The session will examine how price incentives, supply chain complexity and governance gaps interact to enable fraud, and what governments, industry, retailers and standard-setting bodies are doing to address it.
The Invisible Net: Securing the Digital Integrity and Resilience of the Asian Seafood Supply Chain is a session led by the President of the Cyber Security Alliance for the Seafood Industry (CSAFI) that will discuss the emerging risk for the sector. As seafood supply chains become increasingly powered by IoT-enabled processing plants, AI-driven logistics and blockchain-backed traceability, they also become vulnerable to cyberattack. With incidents on global logistics networks rising over 900% in five years, a single breach can trigger immediate product spoilage, financial loss and reputational damage.
The session will present a 2026 roadmap for protecting operational technology, defending traceability data against digital fraud and making the business case for cybersecurity as a core ESG and trade compliance imperative.
Learn More & Register to Attend
Seafood industry professionals can learn more about Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia, find information on the conference program and other special events, and register to attend for free by visiting www.seafoodexpo.com/asia.
To register as media/press, please visit the press center.
Hashtag: #SEASIA26
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia
Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia is a trade event where buyers from across Asia and industry suppliers from around the world come together to network and conduct business in the lucrative Asian market. The event is produced by Diversified and takes place annually in Asia. SeafoodSource is the exposition’s official media covering industry news year-round.
Follow on Social LinkedIn @Seafood Expo Asia Instagram @seafoodexpoasia Facebook @SeafoodExpoAsia
About Diversified
Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. The company’s global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
Oman and Sri Lanka have opened a new channel of investment cooperation centred on special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities, adding momentum to efforts by both countries to attract long-term capital into logistics, real estate, services and manufacturing.
Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, held talks in Muscat with Harsha Amarasekera, Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, on opportunities to link the two countries’ zone-development strategies. The discussions covered commercial and real estate development, mechanisms to improve the business environment, and ways to draw high-quality investments into projects designed to support sustainable growth.
The meeting marks a targeted attempt to move bilateral economic ties beyond conventional trade into the management, promotion and regulation of investment destinations. Both sides reviewed experience in developing and administering special economic zones and examined international practices that could raise operational efficiency, improve investor services and strengthen competitiveness.
For Oman, the engagement fits a wider policy push to make economic zones central to diversification under Vision 2040. OPAZ, established in 2020, supervises key destinations including the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, Sohar Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone and Al Mazunah Free Zone, while promoting a network of industrial estates and logistics-led investment sites. The zones offer incentives such as full foreign ownership, capital and profit repatriation, customs advantages and tax exemptions that can run up to 30 years for qualifying projects.
The policy framework was reinforced by Royal Decree 38/2025, which brought special economic zones and free zones under a unified law that took effect in April 2025. The legislation replaced separate legal regimes for free zones and Duqm, introduced clearer provisions for foreign ownership and licensing, and strengthened the case for a one-stop system to cut procedural delays for investors.
Duqm has become the most visible test of that strategy. Oman signed ten agreements and memoranda this month for projects in the zone with estimated investments of $7.5 billion, including a $4.2 billion green hydrogen development by ACME Group. The package underlines how Muscat is using zone-based infrastructure to capture capital in clean energy, downstream industry, logistics and export-linked production.
Sri Lanka approaches the talks from a different but complementary position. The island’s post-crisis recovery has made investment promotion a policy priority, with foreign direct investment crossing $1 billion in 2025. The Board of Investment approved 146 projects worth about $1.9 billion during the year, with manufacturing, port development and tourism accounting for the largest shares of inflows.
Colombo Port City gives Sri Lanka a flagship platform for the dialogue with Oman. Built on 269 hectares of reclaimed land next to Colombo’s central business district, the project is structured as an international service-oriented special economic zone, with an initial investment of $1.4 billion and expected overall investment of about $20 billion when fully developed. Its commission acts as a single-window facilitator for investors and grants incentives for businesses of strategic importance.
The Omani-Sri Lankan conversation also highlighted small and medium-sized enterprises, an area where both economies are seeking wider participation in export growth and innovation. Sri Lanka’s SME base is tied to apparel, services, technology, tourism and light manufacturing, while Oman is trying to deepen local supply chains around ports, industrial estates and energy projects. Collaboration could extend from investor promotion to training, supplier development and zone management systems.
The timing is significant. Sri Lanka remains under an IMF-backed reform programme after its 2022 financial crisis, with fresh financing approved in May to support reserves and policy stability. Growth remains exposed to external pressures, including energy-price volatility and climate shocks, making durable foreign investment more important than short-term inflows. Oman, meanwhile, is positioning itself as a stable Gulf logistics and production base as investors reassess supply chains.
By K Raveendran The US-Iran deal marks a genuine easing of one of the most dangerous geopolitical shocks to hit the energy market, but it should not be mistaken for a reset button. The immediate risk of a military breakdown has declined, and that matters for every stakeholder: Washington, Tehran, Gulf producers, Asian importers, shipping […]
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 June 2026 –Vingroup ranked 26th in Fortune’s Southeast Asia 500 ranking, rising 11 places from 37th in 2025 and 19 places from 45th in 2024. The Group continues to be the highest-ranked private enterprise in Vietnam.Advancing in the ranking for two consecutive years underscores Vingroup’s scale, competitiveness, and sustainable growth momentum, while highlighting its increasingly prominent position among the region’s leading companies.
This marks the third year that Fortune has published its Southeast Asia 500 ranking. The list ranks companies based on total revenue across seven countries in the region, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
According to Fortune, Vingroup ranked as the No. 1 private enterprise in Vietnam and No. 26 among the 500 largest companies in Southeast Asia. This year’s Southeast Asia 500 recognizes companies that are well positioned to capitalize on shifts in global supply chains and the rapid growth of strategic industries such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.
In addition to its scale of assets, Vingroup was highly recognized for its financial performance and operational efficiency. According to Fortune, in 2025, Vingroup recorded revenue of USD 12,760.6 million, representing year-on-year increases of 69.1% compared to the figures reflected in the 2025 ranking. Vingroup recorded net profit of USD 436.5 million and total assets of USD 42,536.4 million.
Vingroup is a diversified conglomerate operating across Industrials – Technology, Real Estate and Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture and Social Enterprises.
Within the Industrials – Technology pillar, VinFast reinforced its leading position in Vietnam’s automobile and electric two-wheeler markets while continuing its global expansion.
In 2025, VinFast delivered nearly 200,000 electric vehicles worldwide, up 102% year-on-year. The result exceeded the Company’s 2025 target and marked the highest annual delivery volume since its inception. In the first quarter of 2026, VinFast delivered 58,577 electric vehicles across all markets, representing a further 61% increase compared with the same period last year.
Within the Real Estate and Services pillar, Vinhomes maintained its market-leading position with 32 residential developments in operation, home to approximately 650,000 residents. In 2025, Vinhomes recorded contracted sales of VND 205.3 trillion, up 98% year-on-year, with more than 34,000 units delivered. Its unrecognized contracted sales backlog reached VND 186.4 trillion, providing a solid foundation for future growth. Consolidated net revenue totaled VND 153.3 trillion, up 49.8% from 2024, while net profit after tax reached VND 43.3 trillion, up 23.6% year-on-year and exceeding the Company’s annual target.
In 2026, Vinhomes launched a series of large-scale urban developments across Vietnam, including the 6,200-hectare Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province, the 512-hectare Vinhomes Hai Van Bay in Da Nang, and the 1,080-hectare Vinhomes Saigon Park in Ho Chi Minh City. These developments are expected to reshape Vietnam’s urban landscape while contributing to the sustainable growth of the real estate market.
Meanwhile, Vinpearl continued to lead Vietnam’s hospitality, tourism and entertainment sector, operating 60 facilities across 20 provinces and cities. Its ecosystem includes more than 17,500 rooms across a network of five-star hotels and resorts; 15 VinWonders theme parks; six championship golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The portfolio also features two semi-wildlife conservation parks and an equestrian academy. In addition, Vinpearl’s signature live-action performances in destinations such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc attract millions of visitors each year.
Within the Infrastructure pillar, VinSpeed has commenced construction of Vietnam’s first two high-speed rail projects: the Ben Thanh – Can Gio line in Ho Chi Minh City and the Hanoi – Quang Ninh line. Launched in April 2026, the Hanoi – Quang Ninh route is the country’s first interregional high-speed railway project. Beyond creating a powerful growth engine for Northern Vietnam’s key economic region, the project represents an important step toward enhancing the nation’s long-term competitiveness.
Within the Green Energy pillar, VinEnergo announced its expansion plans across Asia and Europe, supported by a renewable energy project pipeline with a total capacity of 10 GW that has already secured development agreements. In Vietnam, the company has obtained investment registration certificates for four renewable energy projects.
Within the Social Enterprises pillar, VinUniversity became the youngest university in Vietnam to receive the FIBAA Quality Seal in March 2026. In healthcare, Vinmec inaugurated its 10th hospital, spanning over 31,000 sqm, with 114 inpatient beds and a designed capacity of 135,000 patient visits annually.
At the end of 2025, Vingroup launched its Culture pillar to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural values and bring them to the world. In May 2026, the Group introduced V-Film, a film and television production and distribution company, with the goal of supporting the development of a professional, modern, and globally integrated Vietnamese film industry.
Looking ahead, Vingroup remains committed to accelerating its core business activities, leveraging the strengths of its diversified ecosystem, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding its international presence. Through these efforts, the Group aims to achieve its 2026 targets while further strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading enterprises. Hashtag: #Vingroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Intersec Saudi Arabia has formed two advisory committees to steer the conference agenda for its 2026 edition, bringing senior security, aviation, infrastructure, fire-protection and emergency-management figures into the planning of the Future Security Summit and the Fire Protection & Technology Summit. The move places artificial intelligence, cyber-physical security, critical infrastructure resilience, predictive risk management and next-generation fire protection at the centre of the Riyadh event, scheduled for […]
Pinterest has committed US$4 billion to Amazon Web Services through 2031, expanding a long-running cloud partnership as the visual discovery platform accelerates artificial intelligence tools for search and shopping. The agreement, announced on 4 June, is the largest infrastructure commitment in Pinterest’s history and places AWS custom silicon at the centre of the company’s next phase of product development. Pinterest plans to increase its use of AWS […]
Uniswap’s UNI token surged more than 22 per cent on Wednesday as a long-range Standard Chartered forecast injected momentum into decentralised-finance names while bitcoin struggled to hold gains before the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The move lifted UNI to about $3.60, extending a sharp weekly advance and making it one of the strongest performers among larger crypto assets. Bitcoin traded near $65,000–$66,000, little changed after a choppy […]
A Russian frigate fired warning shots near a UK-registered civilian yacht in the English Channel, causing no injuries or damage but intensifying concern over Moscow’s naval activity close to Britain. The incident took place at about 11.40am on Tuesday, around 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight and outside UK territorial waters. The vessel involved was the 40ft sailing yacht Bright Future, carrying retired couple […]
Abu Dhabi’s AED55 billion public-private partnership programme is set to redraw the emirate’s infrastructure funding model by bringing private capital deeper into transport, water, flood protection, education, healthcare and community assets over the next two years. The pipeline, launched on May 11 by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, covers 24 projects scheduled to be brought to market during 2026 […]
Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala has acquired $200 million of Equitix’s stake in Greenlink, deepening its exposure to European energy infrastructure as power markets seek stronger cross-border capacity and more flexible grids. The transaction gives Mubadala a place alongside Equitix and Baltic Cable in Greenlink, the operator of a 504MW subsea electricity interconnector linking Great Britain and Ireland. The deal was announced on Tuesday and follows regulatory […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A proposed $300 billion private investment fund has become the most sensitive economic element in the US-Iran framework agreement, with more than half of the target committed as Washington and Tehran prepare for a formal signing ceremony on Friday. The vehicle, described by a person with direct knowledge as the Reconstruction and Development Fund, is intended to create a commercial incentive for both […]
Refreshed five-year Encompass roadmap highlights accelerated fleet decarbonisation and proactive talent integration as key competitive advantages
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 June 2026 – The Caravel Group, a diversified global conglomerate with core businesses in maritime services, commodity trading and investment management, today released its fifth annual Responsibility Report, Encompass. The report details the Group’s progress, key achievements and future targets in running a sustainable and resilient business, with a particular focus on its ship management subsidiary, Fleet Management Limited.
Guided by the four core pillars of the Encompass strategy—Navigating Responsibly, Evolving Environmental Stewardship, Safeguarding People and Working Together—the 2025 report demonstrates how the Group has successfully translated high-level ESG ambitions into measurable, accountable day-to-day operational practices across ship and shore.
Dr. Harry S. Banga, Founder & Executive Chairman of The Caravel Group, said: “Five years ago, we established Encompass as our guiding compass. This fifth annual report is a testament to how we have built a business trusted to perform responsibly, adapt with discipline and remain relevant in a volatile maritime industry. By formally embedding ESG metrics into performance reviews for all onshore employees and establishing strategic initiatives like our LNG bunkering joint venture, we have ensured that responsibility and performance are no longer separate conversations.”
The Group achieved a 42% reduction in managed ship GHG emission intensity from its 2008 baseline, significantly exceeding its established 2030 target of a 30% reduction.
Currently, 74% of the managed fleet is equipped with advanced Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), including high-performance hull paint, Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCFs) and variable speed motors, keeping the Group firmly on track to equip 100% of its fleet by 2030.
The Caravel Group entered a strategic joint venture with Celsius Shipping to co-own and operate a new fleet of high-specification LNG bunkering vessels, supporting the maritime sector’s wider transition towards cleaner fuels.
2. Navigating Responsibly & Digital Innovation
The Group continued the active pilot deployment of Captain’s Eye, an AI-powered maritime safety solution using onboard CCTV to detect smoke, leaks and safety hazards in real-time.
Upgrades to PARIS (integrated fleet management platform) and NOVA (data analytics) provided vessel owners with real-time financial, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance reporting, bolstering transparency and proactive risk management.
3. Safeguarding People & Safety Excellence
Port State Control (PSC) detentions across the fleet plummeted from 22 in 2023 to just 5 in 2025, driven by the Group’s increasingly rigorous safety protocols and strengthened reporting discipline.
The Group recorded an exceptional 91% wellbeing score in its annual employee survey, surpassing its 78% target set for 2028 ahead of schedule.
4. Working Together, Talent & Community Engagement
Following its landmark acquisition of the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, the Group integrated a highly reliable, Group-aligned talent channel, welcoming over 500 job-ready cadets to Fleet Management in 2025.
The Caravel Group recorded a 92% employee engagement score and a 93% Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) score.
In line with its pledge to commit at least 2% of average net profits over the previous three years to social causes, the Group contributed USD 1,529,993 to community partnerships, education initiatives and disaster relief programmes.
Mr. Angad Banga, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Caravel Group, added: “In today’s market, sustainability is no longer a future consideration—it is an active operating condition. Regulatory frameworks like FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS carry real economic consequences, and our clients look to us for the systems, judgment and commercial depth to navigate this landscape. By pairing digital tools with a robust talent pipeline through the IMI, we are building organisational capability before the moment it is needed, creating a lasting competitive advantage.”
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Caravel Group Limited
The Caravel Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a privately held and globally diversified group with operations across maritime services, dry bulk commodity trading, institutional investment management, and philanthropy. Its maritime division includes Fleet Management Limited, one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management, and strategic investments, including a major stake in Pacific Basin (HKEX: 2343). Caravel also owns the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, reinforcing its commitment to maritime talent development. Through Caravel Asset Management, the Group invests globally across public markets and private equity, while its philanthropic arm, The Caravel Foundation, supports the education and well-being of underprivileged youth across Hong Kong, China, and India.
Fleet Management Limited, part of The Caravel Group, is one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management. This scale bears testament to the resilience and commitment of thousands of seafarers and onshore maritime professionals serving shipowners worldwide.
Fleet manages a range of vessels, including bulk carriers, containers, car carriers, oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers from 600 to 320,000 DWT in size – with many being young and energy-efficient with an age profile below the industry average. The company also has a dynamic newbuilding supervision department.
By Asad Mirza The framework peace agreement between the United States and Iran has reduced the immediate risk of a wider regional war. Yet the accord leaves unresolved the central issues that have fuelled four decades of confrontation, making its long-term survival far from assured. The announcement of a framework peace agreement between the United […]
Oxford physicists have demonstrated a new class of Schrödinger’s cat-like quantum states, pushing laboratory control of quantum superposition beyond the familiar model of two classical-looking wave packets held in a fragile balance. The advance, published in Physical Review X on 3 June, shows that cat-like states can be built from components that are already strongly quantum, rather than from the coherent states traditionally used to mimic the […]
Middle East governments moved to endorse a preliminary US-Iran peace deal on Monday, casting it as the strongest diplomatic opening yet to end a four-month conflict that has disrupted energy flows, strained Gulf security and unsettled global markets. The agreement, brokered after mediation led by Pakistan and supported by regional diplomacy, is due to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday. It provides for a halt to […]
Oil prices fell to three-month lows as a US-Iran framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and place Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile under international control moved towards a planned June 19 signing in Geneva, easing fears of a deeper Gulf energy shock. Brent crude slipped to about $83 a barrel on Tuesday after a sharper fall at the start of the week, while West Texas Intermediate traded […]
Foreign investors delivered their strongest one-day purchase of Vietnamese equities in nearly six years on 15 June, signalling a sharp improvement in risk appetite after fears over Middle East energy disruption eased.
Overseas funds bought a net US$160.4 million of Vietnamese shares on Monday, the largest daily inflow since 10 September 2020. The buying helped steady a market that had been under pressure from rising oil prices, global risk aversion and sustained foreign withdrawals despite Vietnam’s long-awaited move towards emerging-market status.
The VN-Index rose 0.43 per cent to 1,799.31 on Monday and moved back above the 1,800-point area on Tuesday, keeping the benchmark close to levels that still represent a strong annual advance even after a pullback over the past month. The shift was part of a wider rebound across Asian emerging markets after the United States and Iran agreed on terms aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over inflation and fuel costs.
The reversal is notable because foreign investors have remained net sellers of Vietnamese equities this year. Even after Monday’s inflow, overseas funds have sold about US$2.6 billion of Vietnamese stocks in 2026, following withdrawals of roughly US$4.8 billion last year. Those outflows reflected concerns over market concentration, heavy exposure to a few large-cap groups, tariff uncertainty, currency pressure and the impact of higher energy prices on a manufacturing-led economy.
“De-escalation in the Middle East and Vietnam’s own underperformance have created a textbook re-entry set-up for foreign capital,” said Quynh Cao, head of institutional business at VNDirect Securities. “Positioning was already tight and it does not take much to flip that.”
Vietnam’s appeal to global investors rests on more than a single trading session. FTSE Russell has confirmed that the country will be reclassified from frontier to secondary emerging-market status from 21 September, with inclusion in global equity indices to be phased through 2027. The upgrade is expected to bring passive inflows of about US$1.5 billion, with broader active flows potentially lifting the total to several billion dollars if market reforms continue.
The reclassification follows changes aimed at improving foreign access, including the removal of full pre-funding requirements for equity trades and the development of a global broker model. These reforms address long-standing obstacles for institutional investors, who had complained about settlement risk, limited access channels and operational frictions that made Vietnam harder to replicate within global index portfolios.
Large-cap names expected to draw attention include Vingroup, Masan Group, FPT Corp and Hoa Phat Group, alongside banks, securities firms, industrial stocks and consumer companies with sufficient liquidity and foreign room. Average daily trading value in Vietnamese equities this year has been around US$789 million, underscoring the market’s growing depth, though liquidity remains uneven across sectors.
The macroeconomic backdrop remains supportive. Vietnam’s economy expanded 8.02 per cent in 2025, helped by strong exports, public investment, manufacturing activity and resilient consumption. Foreign direct investment disbursement rose to about US$27.6 billion last year, while exports reached roughly US$475 billion. Growth is expected to moderate this year, but projections still place Vietnam among Asia’s faster-growing economies.
Higher oil prices had complicated that outlook. Vietnam is exposed to imported fuel and energy costs, making any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz a direct risk to inflation, transport costs and factory margins. The drop in crude prices after the US-Iran accord helped restore confidence among investors looking at countries with strong structural growth but sensitivity to external shocks.
The market is not without vulnerabilities. Retail investors remain a major force in daily trading, making sentiment swings sharper when liquidity thins. Foreign ownership limits continue to constrain buying in some leading companies. Corporate governance, disclosure quality and settlement infrastructure also remain areas under watch as Vietnam seeks eventual MSCI emerging-market status.
Analysts say the latest inflow will need to be sustained before it can be treated as a durable turning point. A single large session can reflect short-covering, index positioning or tactical buying after a sell-off. A lasting reversal would require more consistent foreign participation, firmer currency conditions, stable oil prices and evidence that earnings growth can match valuations after the market’s strong run.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Donald Trump’s pledge that the Strait of Hormuz will be “completely opened” by Friday has left European partners pressing for details before committing naval assets to clear mines and escort commercial vessels through the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoint. The US president arrived at the Group of Seven summit in Évian-les-Bains saying a preliminary US-Iran accord had settled the immediate question of shipping […]
Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia
