Daily Market Watch 16/09/2025: Stocks Reversed as the VN-Index Faced Resistance at 1,700pts

MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

o       The market opened higher, adding nearly 12 points in the ATO session as some investors believed a sharp correction was unlikely. However, strong profit-taking pressure quickly emerged as a “sell-the-news” trend dominated ahead of the Fed’s expected 50bps rate cut announcement tomorrow. Light foreign inflows provided little support, leaving the VN-Index up just 2.79 points (+0.17%) at the end of. the morning session. 

o       In the afternoon, foreign investors turned net buyers, focusing on large-cap stocks and helping the market rebound nearly 10 points to approach the intraday high of 1,695. However, the VN-Index again failed to break the 1,700 threshold as weak demand triggered strong selling pressure in key pillars. VIC closed down 2.03% and VHM dropped 1.72%, together dragging nearly 4.3 points from the index. HPG declined 1.32%, MSN fell 1.92%, while VCB, BID, and GAS also closed in the red. At the intraday high, market breadth stood at 126 gainers versus 175 decliners, but closed at a weaker 114 gainers versus 210 decliners. 

o       Liquidity surged on heavy selling pressure, reaching USD 1.56 bn (+7.6% DoD). Foreign investors reversed course after five consecutive sessions of net selling, recording a net buy of USD 2.0 mn. Purchases focused on VIX (+USD 15.9 mn), HVN (+USD 7.4 mn), and VNM (+USD 6.7 mn), while net selling was concentrated in financial names including VPB (-USD 10.3 mn), SSI (-USD 7.5 mn), and VND (-USD 7.3 mn). 

Sector performance:

o       Mid- and small-cap stocks underperformed the market as retail investors reacted more nervously, with the VNMid down 0.9% and the VNSml losing 0.7%. Meanwhile, VN30 declined only 0.1% thanks to renewed foreign inflows into large-cap names. 

o       Real estate, industrials, and materials were the weakest sectors, dropping 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.1%, respectively. The declines were mainly driven by profit-taking pressure from retail investors after a strong rally in these sectors over the past weeks. 

o       Capital rotation shifted into large-cap stocks that had previously underperformed, with IT rising 1.5% and consumer discretionary gaining 0.8%. The move was largely supported by foreign net buying in FPT, which advanced 1.57%. Retailers also attracted strong inflows, with FRT up 2.01%, MWG +1.01%, and PNJ +0.57%.