banks look to absorb credit losses

Banks look to absorb credit losses

Local banks are trying to lower mobilising rates to stop bleeding credit service losses. VP Bank general manager Le Dac Son said with rates of 17.5-18 per cent per year banks were struggling to turn a profit.
banks back in love with interbank lending

Banks back in love with interbank lending

Local banks are pushing interbank market lending under the expectation of a State Bank base interest rate cut as money pumped through open market operations falls.
state bank to stay the course despite base interest rumours

State Bank to stay the course despite base interest rumours

Despite swirling rumours of a base interest rate cut in the offing, the State Bank is likely to stand firm until at least this year’s fourth quarter.
foreign hands getting busy with credit services

Foreign hands getting busy with credit services

Foreign bank branches this year have increased credit services at an unprecedented level without State Bank restrictions.
banks put pressure on swap frameworks

Banks put pressure on swap frameworks

Currency swap frameworks revision could result from commercial bank pressure. Duong Thu Huong, Vietnam Banking Association’s (VNBA) general secretary, said deposits in foreign currencies, mostly in greenbacks, were on the rise while demand for dollar loans were on the wane.
heat taken out of dollar trades

Heat taken out of dollar trades

Greenback speculation on the black market has cooled following the State Bank’s strong messages to the public and large-scale selling to local commercial banks.

Interest rate cap is axed oved, new

The State Bank has officially abolished the interest rate cap put in place since late February, 2008. However, financial experts said new measures were at the same time introduced to prevent a possible interest rate race between banks.
government moves to rein in dollarisation

Government moves to rein in dollarisation

The State Bank’s tightened dollar lending regulations may allow it to kill two birds with one stone. With the Decision 09/2008/QD-NHNN coming into effect from April 25, 2008 after a seven-month study, customers are now permitted to borrow dollars from commercial banks for three purposes instead of the previous eight.
banks fear fresh capital crunch

Banks fear fresh capital crunch

A nightmare capital shortage crisis is looming with local banks urged to hike interest rates again - just after two weeks since these institutions reached an agreement to reduce interest rates.
dong on depreciating trajectory against dollar

Dong on depreciating trajectory against dollar

The Vietnamese dong is turning back to a depreciating track against the greenback. Since last week, the dong/dollar exchange rate began rising back after hitting a two-year low of VND15,825 per dollar.
state bank tightens rates

State Bank tightens rates

With inflation already starting out at a blistering pace in 2008, the State Bank is looking to introduce a package of responses to curb what has become the country’s greatest threat to economic development.
state bank swims against tide

State Bank swims against tide

Recent monetary market moves to drive down the daily official exchange rate have seen the State Bank work towards an increasingly unachievable target, banking experts claim.
playing cupid between local firms and investors

Playing cupid between local firms and investors

A rash of international symposiums and conferences have put the spotlight squarely on Vietnam’s beefed up investment environment.
state bank taking more flexible market stance

State Bank taking more flexible market stance

The Vietnam dong is set to further appreciate against the US dollar towards the year’s end. The market rate set by Vietcombank reached a record low for 2007 of VND16,046/USD on November 29.
dollar to lose its attraction

Dollar to lose its attraction

Despite a number of local banks still racing to mobilise US dollars, the greenback acquisitions are sure to slow, according to a State Bank official.