A decline in the number of new individual securities accounts was first seen in July and continued into August, falling by 22.1 per cent year-on-year to 155,000. Domestic individual investors, meanwhile, continued to be net sellers in August for the fourth consecutive month.

According to the General Statistics Office, there were more than 13,000 newly-established enterprises in July, down 0.7 per cent compared to June but up 50.7 per cent year-on-year. At the same time, 2,300 businesses returned to operations, up 3.2 per cent over June.

Figures from the General Department of Customs show that exports reached $14.29 billion in the first half of July, down 19.5 per cent compared to the first half of June, while imports were $16.3 billion, up 4.5 per cent. Vietnam therefore posted a trade deficit of more than $2 billion in the period and $1 billion since the beginning of the year.