The fears of coronavirus have clouded prospects for the global economy and caused difficulties for Vietnam's stock market.

Akihiko Iwatani, chief representative of Haseko Corporation in Hanoi, believes that Vietnam is the most attractive market in ASEAN for Japanese investors in particular and foreign investors in general.

Export turnover within the textile and apparel sector is forecast to reach up to US$42 billion in 2020, representing an increase of 7.7 per cent compared to the figures from 2019, according to SSI Securities Corporation.

 The dairy industry grew 0.5 per cent in market capitalisation in 2019, much lower than the average growth of 7.7 per cent of the VN-Index, according to a report issued recently by SSI Securities Joint Stock Company (SSI).

The Vietnamese steel industry is expected to face difficulties this year due to an increase in production capacity, falling demand and protectionist measures by countries to reduce imports, according to experts.

Rising medium- and long-term capital demands to meet stricter regulations on credit safety limits and capital adequacy early next year were putting pressure on commercial banks to issue bonds in the final months of the year, experts said.

Business sectors that could capitalize on the 100 million population will be set for strong growth, said an expert.

Real estate enterprises outpaced banks to issue the largest volume of corporate bonds last month, according to a newly released report by SSI Securities Corporation.

A slowdown in export growth of the foreign-invested sector could have a negative impact on Vietnam’s economy in 2020, according to SSI Securities Corporation, Vietnam’s largest brokerage house.

Covered warrants will be an alternative technical tool as foreign investors are not limited to buy the securities product and can freely trade it as domestic investors do.

A number of securities companies now are earning big money from corporate bonds.

Recent index falls could trigger another correction in Vietnam’s stock market, despite a positive long-term outlook among foreign investors.