Vietnamese shares were dragged down by strong profit-taking pressure yesterday while investors remained cautious towards the current trading outlook.

As international economic integration proceeds, Vietnamese firms will encounter many new business opportunities by gaining access to broader markets, but will also have to face many challenges, such as more pressure from competition and the need for compliance with international guidelines and rules, including those relating to intellectual property.

Mining Việt Nam 2018, an international mining and minerals recovery exhibition opened its doors yesterday at the International Centre for Exhibition in Hà Nội.

Việt Nam’s tra-basa (catfish) fish exporters will likely find it more challenging to export to the US market after the US Department of Commerce (DOC) imposed high anti-dumping duties on frozen catfish fillets imported from Việt Nam. Vietnam News Agency and Trương Đình Hòe, general secretary of the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), discussed some solutions to the new challenges.

The northern provinces of Bắc Giang, Hưng Yên, Hải Dương and Sơn La have proposed boosting exports of litchi and longan to foreign markets, including China.

Viet Capital Securities Company (VCSC) will focus on investment banking in 2018, a sector expected to contribute VNĐ458 billion (US$20.3 million) to the firm’s total post-tax profit this year.

After years of receiving low dividend payout rate by banks, shareholders of many banks are now happy with the high rates announced at this year’s annual general meetings (AGMs) of shareholders.

Việt Nam’s cement industry saw strong growth in cement exports in the first quarter of this year as many Chinese cement factories shut down due to pollution and power shortages.

Sài Gòn-Hà Nội Securities Joint Stock Company (SHS) has reported that its post-tax profit in the first quarter of 2018 tripled from a year ago to VNĐ136 billion (US$6 million).