Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Listed companies on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX)reported their profits grew 11.4 percent year on year to reach 19.93 trillionVND (855.6 million USD) in 2018.
According to the northern market regulator, 360 of the total 369 companies onthe HNX had released their fourth-quarter earnings reports as of the end ofFebruary 2019.
Among the 360 reporting firms, 325 made profits in the fourth quarter of 2018,which rose 9.7 percent year on year to nearly 20.95 trillion VND.
Data from the northern market regulator showed seven of 11 sectors made higherprofits in 2018 compared to 2017.
The financial sector had the highest post-tax profit growth rate among 11sectors, up 48.7 percent to 8.66 trillion VND in 2018 from 5.82 trillion VND in2017.
Leading the financial sector were commercial banks.
Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) reported 5.13 trillion VND in net profit for 2018,up 143 percent.
The figures for Saigon -Hanoi Bank (SHB) and National Citizen Commercial Bank(NVB) were 1.66 trillion VND and 39.25 billion VND, up 7.8 percent and 79 percent,respectively.
Among other financial firms, securities companies posted lower earnings for 2018.
The real estate sector also performed well in 2018 with total post-tax profitrising 35.5 percent to 1.58 trillion VND from 1.17 trillion VND in 2017 thanksto cost cuts and higher total sales.
The sectors that saw strong declines in profits included construction. Forty of68 construction firms on the HNX posted lower earnings in 2018 compared to2017. The sector’s total post-tax profit fell by 51.1 percent to 1.64 trillionVND from 3.38 trillion VND.
Thirty-five of the 360 companies reported losses of at least 1 trillion VND in2018, down 15.3 percent year on year. However, the number of loss-reportingcompanies was 35, up 16.7 percent.-VNS/VNA