What to read before the stock market opens on May 5, 2026

What to read before the stock market opens: a quick roundup of domestic and international financial and economic news notable in the last 24 hours ahead of today’s trading session.

Brokerage notes and stock-specific updates

• KBC, TCB, and HPG: Brokerage houses recommend buying KBC on expectations of benefiting from FDI inflows and contributions from key industrial park and urban projects. They also suggest increasing weight on TCB due to positive earnings growth, solid asset quality, and a sustainable lending strategy, while recommending buying HPG thanks to robust earnings growth and a positive outlook from higher production and improved selling prices.
• HAGL: Hoàng Anh Gia Lai reported record quarterly profit. In Q1 2026, HAGL posted profit of more than 1.1 trillion dong, the highest quarterly profit on record, mainly supported by bond-interest exemptions.
• IPA Group: Consolidated profit reached about 98.6 billion dong, up 4.8x year-on-year. The parent company IPA recorded a net loss of 79.8 billion dong in Q1 2026. During the period, IPA liquidated over 1,100 billion dong of assets in its trading portfolio, generating nearly 65 billion dong in profit.
• Duc Giang Chemicals: In Q1 2026, net profit fell by about 50% year-on-year due to lower revenue, while input costs rose because of supply disruptions from Quarry 25. The company’s performance is being reviewed following the chairman’s arrest.
• ACV: Vietnam Airports Corporation – JSC (UPCoM: ACV) reported record-high Q1 profit. However, disbursement progress for the Long Thành airport project slowed amid ongoing legal controversy.
• PV GAS: Vietnam Oil and Gas Group – PV GAS posted nearly 3 trillion dong in Q1 profit. First-quarter revenue rose by nearly 50% year-on-year, but high costs limited profit growth, with net profit up about 7%.
• Hoa Sen: Hoa Sen Group (HOSE: HSG) reported a sharp profit decline of more than 40% in the quarter, citing challenging hot-rolled coil export conditions.
• Masan: Masan Group (HOSE: MSN) reported a historic-high Q1 profit. Consolidated Q1 2026 net revenue was about 24,020 billion dong and net profit about 1,974 billion dong, up 6% and 2x year-on-year, respectively.
• VSC: Container Vietnam (Viconship, HOSE: VSC) shares fell 40% after 60 million shares changed hands to finalize a major stake. Leadvisors Capital purchased 60 million shares, equivalent to about 16% of charter capital.
• NVL: NVL hit the floor price, with sell orders exceeding 13.6 million shares on the morning of 04/05.
• VARS IRE: A report on Hanoi real estate prices cited a level of 128 million dong/m2, while noting that cash continues to flow into real estate supported by real demand and infrastructure beneficiaries.

Market and sector developments

• Domestic market activity: The market remained active, with parent entities HOSE and HNX posting over 80% growth in net profit. Along with first-quarter results, revenue and profit rose by more than 80% year-on-year, reaching about 26% of annual targets.
• External money flow: External money flow showed selling pressure across a number of stocks.
• Sector outlook: Steel and rubber sector players were noted as benefiting from improved demand and commodity prices.

Corporate governance and broader economic themes

• 2026 AGM season: The 2026 AGM season shows modernization in technology and online voting, but the underlying issue remains limited shareholder-dialogue rights with management, which may hinder governance effectiveness.
• Gold narrative: A discussion revisited why people hold gold, focusing on the capital-stability narrative and potential opportunity costs.
• Japan insurance scandal: Prudential Life Insurance in Japan disclosed a system-wide misconduct issue involving over 100 staff. The president said new product sales may need to pause to implement reforms.
• Iran conflict and Asia risk: The Middle East crisis was cited as pushing Asia’s economy into higher risk, with rising energy costs and potential growth shocks tied to energy dependence on the region.

Market news checklist ahead of the open

• 05/05: Focus on risk management in market outlook.
• TASCO: Q1 2026 revenue and profit rose, with core segments showing strong growth.
• Beton-6: Fined for late reporting of several disclosures.
• DPM: Profit doubled; over 60% of the profit target achieved in Q1.
• Dabaco: Profits declined for two consecutive quarters.
• BIG Group Holdings: Q1 profit surged by 650% as it concentrates on land accumulation in the Mekong Delta and prepares to list on HOSE.
• VPBankS: Amid rising interest rates, accelerates margin growth by leveraging its capital position.
• Sợi Thế Kỷ: Reported a first-quarter loss as the Unitex plant starts operation.
• Viet Tien: Q1 revenue declined, but margins improved.

In-depth stock index overview

VN-Index, HNX-Index, and UpCoM-Index charts and performance metrics for the day were referenced as part of the pre-market checklist.