Securities trading uninterrupted during COVID-19 fight: SSC

HÀ NỘI — Trading on the Vietnamese securities market was essential and would not be disrupted under any circumstances during the fight against COVID- 一 九, the State Securities Co妹妹ission (SSC) said on Tuesday.

Trading activities would be thorough and secure, the agency said in a statement, adding that securities trading was one of the essential services regulated by the Prime Minister’s Directive  一 六 dated March  三 一 to enhance the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

Directive  一 六 was issued on Tuesday to issue a  一 五-day nationwide social distancing order, starting on  一 二am Wednesday April  一, as the Government advised people to stop travelling and grouping to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Việt Nam on Tuesday reported four new COVID- 一 九 cases, raising the total number to  二0 七.

The SSC also asked the two stock exchanges, the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD), securities companies, fund management firms, and other market members to keep innovating and using modern technologies to adapt to comply with the Government’s request.

Stock exchanges, market regulators, securities companies and fund management firms were also required to be prepared for any possible scenarios during the COVID- 一 九 fight.

They were also asked to take drastic measures to make sure employees, investors and customers were safe and not infected by the virus.

Since January-end, the benchmark VN-Index on the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange has lost  三 三. 二 per cent, and billions of dollars have been wiped off the market’s total capitalisation as the country struggles with the spread of the coronavirus.

A number of securities companies have switched to online working mode and suspended direct contact between their employees and customers to prevent a potential virus breakout. — VNS