Oil Prices Surge as Iran Hormuz Restrictions Renew Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Slip as AI Rally Fades, Oil Holds Steady on Iran Peace Deal Hopes 
UK Services PMI Returns to Growth in July as New Orders and Confidence Rebound 
BOJ Rate Hike Expectations Rise Ahead of September Meeting 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Chip Selloff Hits KOSPI, Nikkei Ahead of US Jobs Data 
China Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts in July as Exports Stay Strong 
BOJ Minutes Signal More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Grow 
Singapore Says One-Third of U.S. Exports Hit by New 12.5% Tariff 
Brazil Cuts Selic Rate to 14% as Inflation Eases but Risks Persist 
Gold Prices Steady as Hormuz Tensions Fuel Fed Rate Concerns 
US Job Growth Seen Picking Up in July 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as US Dollar Nears Seven-Week Low Ahead of Key Jobs Data 
European Natural Gas Prices Hold Near Three-Week Lows Amid Middle East Talks and Supply Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slide as Semiconductor Selloff Weighs on South Korea and Japan 
US Stock Futures Rise as Markets Await July Payrolls Data 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Dow Hits Record Despite Tech Weakness 
Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian country identified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to be on track for economic growth this year, forecast at 2.4 percent.
The IMF attributed the country's decisive steps to contain the health and economic fallout from COVID-19 for its success.
Vietnam has had only 1,288 Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths.
The IMF is also predicting a 6.5percent growth for Vietnam in 2021, as the normalization of domestic and foreign economic activity continues.
Vietnam lacks the health infrastructure of wealthier countries but more than made up for it with astute public health measures that quickly brought COVID-19 numbers under control.
Among the measures was the timely development of testing kits, utilization of a combination of strategic testing, and aggressive contact tracing.
While Vietnam experienced slower economic growth this year with its badly hit, it has avoided the worst effects of the pandemic.
According to Michael Kokalari, the chief economist for Vinacapital, among the factors allowing the country to cushion the blow was the huge increase in the number of people working from home globally.
Consequently, it spurred demand for Vietnam-made laptops and office furniture.
Vietnam’s exports to the US increased by 23 percent in the first three quarters compared to the same period in 2019, with electronics exports up 26 percent.
The increase in labor costs in China and the ongoing US-China trade war also prompted many multinationals to start operating in Vietnam, including the likes of Apple and Samsung.
The pandemic also showed more companies to consider manufacturing in Vietnam due to the need to diversify their supply chains, noted Kokalari.
