In 2018, Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) held 269 auction sessions and mobilized VND192 trillion (US$8.28 billion) in capital, down 1.19% year-on-year, according to the organization’s annual 2018 report.
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Regarding the stock market performance, Nguyen Thanh Long, board chairman of the HNX, said liquidity has expanded positively at growth rate of 31.2%, and the transaction value averaged VND1.16 trillion (US$50 million) per session, significantly higher than the figure of VND886 billion (US$38.23 million) in 2017.
As of the end of 2018, 376 companies had listed shares on the HNX worth VND127 trillion (US$5.48 billion), up 7.77% year-on-year. The market capitalization of those enterprises was estimated at VND192.13 trillion (US$8.3 billion), down 13.8%.
In the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM), 810 companies registered for stake sales with transaction value in 2018 of VND322.63 trillion (US$13.92 billion), market capitalization of VND893.7 trillion (US$38.57 billion), up 31.88% year-on-year.
Notably, foreign investors net sold on the HNX of VND1.97 trillion (US$85 million) last year, a six-fold increase compared to that of in 2017, and net purchased VND2.64 trillion (US$114 million) on the UPCoM, slightly down from VND3.11 trillion (US$134.22 million) last year.
Slow progress in state firms’ divestment
Nevertheless, the report stated the privatization and divestment processes in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) did not meet expectations in 2018 when only 29 divestment sessions were carried out in the HNX, down 12.12% year-on-year.
Additionally, a total of 16 privatized SOEs have listed shares on the UPCoM in 2018.
Most state firms completed the divestment process were major corporations such as telecom services companies MobiFone and military-run Viettel, Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group (TKV) and the government’s investment arm State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), among others.
The HNX’s report revealed the share amount offered at divestment sessions reached 518 million, while the successful rate was 89%, of which shares offered in 24 out of 29 sessions had been sold out for proceeds of VND12.6 trillion (US$543.8 million).
