Companies continue to list on Vietnam's bourses

Hanoi (VNA) - A number of businesses are persisting in listing their shares on the nation's stock exchanges despite the market turmoil.

The Hanoi-based HaSTC has admitted seven newcomers so far this year, including one
coal producer, a commercial bank, a construction company, a book and school
equipment dealer, two transport companies, and a chemical company.

Early in February, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) officially agreed to the
listing of 11.5 million shares in the Rang Dong Plastic Company.

Both stock markets have received an increased number of applications for either
further or initial listing, including the Giai Phong Automobile Company, the Hong
Long Group and the Investment, Construction and Mining Company, Vinavico.

While a number of established stocks reported losses in 2008, many newcomers
posted profits, for example, the Binh Chanh Construction Investment Company, with
a charter capital of 542 billion VND. Its shares, coded BCI, are expected to be
listed at 27,000 VND/share, attracting widespread interest from buyers.

Another real estate developer, the NBB Investment Company, has also been viewed as
good investment, with shares offered at 27,000 VND/unit. NBB's financial reports
reveal an annual profit of 55.2 billion VND, a rise of almost 88.5 percent over
2007's figure.

Securities experts in the southern economic hub said that decisions by enterprises
to list their shares on the stock market demonstrated their confidence in their
business, thus diversifying the stocks on offer and offering a range of a choices
for investors.-Enditem