Vietnam Insight

Waiting for PCE price index release. US stock futures held steady on Friday as investors looked ahead to the release of the PCE price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, for fresh policy guidance. In extended trading, Autodesk surged 10% and Ulta Beauty gained 2.5% after both companies issued upbeat forecasts, while Dell Technologies dropped about 5% on a weaker-than-expected outlook for the current quarter. During Thursday’s regular session, the S&P 500 rose 0.32% to a new all-time high, while the Dow added 0.16% and the Nasdaq advanced 0.53%. Market sentiment was buoyed by resilient economic data and ongoing optimism around artificial intelligence, even as Nvidia delivered mixed signals. 

The uptrend continues. The VN-Index closed at 1,680.86 (+8.08 points, +0.48%) with moderate liquidity. The market recorded 177 gainers and 137 decliners. Leading contributors to the index’s gains were VPB, TCB, and SSI, while VIC, BID, and MBB dragged on the market. Foreign investors posted strong net selling of more than VND 2,500 billion, mainly in HPG, MSB, and MBB.

Trading Strategy: The priority strategy is to hold positions and be ready to take profit at target levels. For short-term traders, if the market corrects toward the 1,600 zone and rebounds, a light allocation can be considered. If the market pulls back toward 1,500, it will present a clearer buying opportunity for medium-term positions. Investors may allocate more aggressively, focusing on stocks with strong catalysts such as index reclassification, robust earnings growth, or valuations lower than the overall market.