Vietnam Insight

Stable movements awaiting new information. US stock futures were little changed on Friday as investors braced for a crucial inflation report that could shape the outlook for the economy and interest rates. The report, delayed by the ongoing government shutdown, is expected to show prices remaining elevated and comes just ahead of a likely Federal Reserve rate cut next week. In corporate news, Intel shares surged nearly 8% in extended trading after the chipmaker reported higher-than-expected sales in the third quarter. Target and Rivian also ticked up after announcing layoffs. During Thursday’s regular session, the Dow added 0.31%, the S&P 500 rose 0.58%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.89%, driven by renewed buying in tech stocks. A White House announcement that President Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next Thursday in South Korea eased concerns over US-China relations.

Technical rebound – consolidation phase. VNINDEX closed at 1,687.06 (+8.56 points, +0.51%) with liquidity lower than the 20-session average. The market had 157 gaining stocks and 156 declining stocks. The stock groups that contributed most to the market's rally were VIC, VHM, LPB; contributing to the market's decline were TCB, CTG, and VPB. Foreign investors net sold strongly at 1,254 billion VND.

Trading Strategy: Short-term investors should refrain from making new purchases for now and wait for the market to form a price base. If the market successfully retests the 1,600-point level, investors may consider allocating capital for medium- to long-term positions, focusing on stocks with strong catalysts — such as those benefiting from market reclassification, robust earnings growth, or valuations that remain lower than the broader market