Stock market on April 17th: Which stocks should you watch?
The stock market on April 17th was hit by a series of impactful news, ranging from infrastructure and industrial park stocks to the US-China trade tensions.
The Vietnamese stock market entered the trading session on April 17th with a lot of impactful information from both domestic and international sources. Notable stocks, as assessed by securities companies, included C4G, SZC, and GEX – each carrying its own story linked to industry prospects and the changing macroeconomic landscape.
C4G stock – Expectations from infrastructure and BOT projects
CIENCO4 Group Joint Stock Company is expected to continue revenue growth in 2025 thanks to its infrastructure construction segment – a sector being strongly promoted in the final year of its medium-term plan. In addition, the Dien Chau - Bai Vot BOT expressway project has officially started collecting tolls, creating a stable source of revenue. However, with the backlog of newly signed contracts potentially decreasing due to procedural and land clearance issues, Bao Viet Securities recommends a NEUTRAL rating with a target price of VND 8,100 per share.
SZC – Industrial real estate facing challenges
Sonadezi Chau Duc JSC faces challenges as demand for industrial park land leases slows in 2025 due to global trade instability. Although first-quarter 2025 profits increased sharply thanks to contracts from Tripod, long-term potential still needs reassessment as macroeconomic factors remain unclear. Two major securities firms, BIDV and SSI, maintain a neutral stance on SZC.
GEX – Positive outlook, but price is already reflected.
GELEX Group's price target was adjusted upwards by 15% due to a revaluation of assets in its Long Son electrical equipment and petrochemical segments. However, due to the stock's strong recent rise, Vietcap Securities lowered its recommendation from "buy" to "positive," even though core earnings in 2025 are projected to decline only slightly by 4%.
Macroeconomic information and international risks impact the market.
Amid escalating trade tensions between the US and China, with the US announcing tariffs of up to 245% on Chinese goods and President Trump launching an investigation into imported minerals, global capital flows could experience significant volatility. Beijing has stated its willingness to negotiate if treated with respect, while Trump has urged China to take the initiative.
Furthermore, the Chinese economy showed strong signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2025, with both industrial production and retail sales experiencing positive growth. Domestically, the price of gold bars continued to reach a peak of nearly 116 million VND/ounce, indicating a tendency for capital to seek safe haven assets.
Other notable developments include:
The Ho Chi Minh City office market is about to enter a fiercely competitive phase starting in Q2 2025. Several large businesses such as Vinacafé Bien Hoa, MBS, D2D, Vinaseed, and PGBank have also made changes in strategy, business results, and personnel, reflecting their adaptation to the volatile investment environment.
Conclude
Investors entered the April 17th trading session with caution. Although some specific stocks like C4G, SZC, and GEX still have their own growth stories, global uncertainties and capital flow adjustments are causing the market to need more time to determine a clear trend. Closely monitoring international trade developments and capital flows will be key factors in the coming period.
