Vietnam Insight

Producer prices in the US unexpectedly fell. US stock futures were flat on Thursday as investors awaited the August consumer inflation report, which could reinforce expectations for a larger 50 basis point rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week. Markets also looked ahead to weekly jobless claims and federal budget figures. On the earnings front, results from Kroger and Adobe are due. During Wednesday’s session, the S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.03%, with both indexes hitting fresh record highs following an unexpected drop in producer prices and a strong forecast from Oracle. By contrast, the Dow lost 0.48%, dragged down by Apple after its new product launch disappointed investors. Oracle shares jumped 36% on booming AI-driven cloud bookings, while Apple slid 3.2% as the iPhone 17 rollout failed to impress. Producer prices in the US unexpectedly fell 0.1% mom in August 2025, following a downwardly revised 0.7% rise in July and well below forecasts of a 0.3% increase.

Rally loses momentum. VN-Index closed at 1,643.26, up 5.94 points or 0.36%, with trading volume lower than the 20-day average. The market had 149 gainers and 171 losers. The stocks that contributed most to the market's gains were VCB, VIC, and CTG, while FPT, GVR, and LPB were the biggest contributors to its decline. Foreign investors were net sellers for over 2.937 trillion VND, primarily in HPG and MWG.

Trading Strategy: Prioritize a holding strategy and be ready to sell once targets are met. For short-term traders, if the market corrects to around 1,600 points and rebounds, a small allocation can be considered. If the market returns to the 1,540-point area, there will be a clearer buying opportunity for medium-term positions. In addition, investors should maintain a balanced ratio of stocks and cash in their portfolios.