| Headline: Small but perfectly formed Source: Euromoney Date: February 2001 Author: Gill Baker Vietnam’s newly created stock market boasts only five stocks, yet one foreign investor reckons its dematerialized system is far superior to London’s. Strong economic growth rates are attracting direct and portfolio investors. Enthusiasts reckon valuations are at their lowest and likely to rise before long. There’s a renewed buzz of activity in the foreign investment community in Vietnam. The more adventurous portfolio investors are attracted by low valuations and foreign corporations are being drawn in by growth potential. In contrast to most other Asian countries, growth rates are picking up. Yet Vietnam is a small economy in a region just embarking on reform. Its stock market is new and tiny. Opinion is divided as to whether Vietnam will remain an exotic destination for small amounts of specialist emerging market investment, or is on the brink of becoming a serious option for foreign businesses. Dominic Scriven, a director of UK investment company Dragon Capital, which is prominent in equity trading in Vietnam, is in no doubt. “If you blow away all the hot air and verbiage and stress it is a fairly simple proposition,” he says. |