Vietnam

Đề xuất mới cho phép các ngân hàng nắm giữ nhiều vàng hơn

Dantri | Local Language | News | Nov. 14, 2025 | Regulation

The State Bank of Vietnam is proposing to raise the end-of-day gold position limit for credit institutions authorized to produce gold bars from 2% to 5% of their own capital. This change is outlined in a draft Circular intended to replace Circular No. 38/2012/TT-NHNN. The gold position includes the volume of gold bars produced, transactions involving gold bars and spot raw gold, as well as off-balance-sheet commitments related to these activities. For credit institutions only permitted to trade gold bars without producing or importing/exporting, the gold position limit remains at 2%. Institutions are prohibited from maintaining a negative gold position, and any exceeding of limits requires approval from the State Bank Governor.

Currently, eight banks meet the charter capital requirements specified in Decree 24, which sets a minimum of 50,000 billion VND. These are Vietcombank, VietinBank, BIDV, Agribank, Techcombank, MB, VPBank, and ACB. Assuming they all qualify to produce, export, and import gold bars as well as import raw gold, their collective 5% gold position equates to approximately 2.56 billion USD or roughly 20 tons of gold, based on their capital as of September 30, current exchange rates, and international gold prices. However, the issuance of quotas for these activities still depends on the State Bank's discretion.

The State Bank believes increasing the gold position limit will help boost gold supply in the domestic market amid high global gold prices and expanded banking activities in gold trading. This measure is designed to help narrow the price gap between domestic and international gold prices while maintaining banking system safety, as the increased gold positions remain proportionate to banks’ own capital and financial capacity under Decree 24’s conditions.

Nhu cầu dầu toàn cầu sẽ tăng đến năm 2050

VN Express | Local Language | News | Nov. 14, 2025 | UndeterminedEnergy Prices

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its World Energy Outlook report on November 12, 2025, projecting that global oil demand will increase to 113 million barrels per day by 2050, representing a 13% rise from the previous year. This forecast indicates that oil demand may continue to grow for more than two decades, marking a shift from earlier predictions of a rapid transition to clean energy. The IEA also cautioned that current trends suggest the world will likely miss climate targets.

The report is based on the current policies scenario, which includes only enacted regulations and does not factor in climate goals, a method last applied in 2019 before the IEA shifted to carbon neutrality-aligned forecasts. Under this scenario, global LNG markets are expected to more than double, growing from 560 billion cubic meters in 2024 to 1,020 billion cubic meters by 2050, driven by increased electricity demand from data centers and AI expansion.

Previously, under U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, the IEA had forecast peak oil demand within this decade and recommended halting new oil and gas investments to meet climate objectives. However, insufficient national climate plans have delayed updated assessments for 2031-2035. The IEA, funded mainly by member countries with the U.S. as the top contributor, remains influential in shaping global energy policies but has recently faced criticism from the U.S. amid calls to boost domestic oil and gas production.

Đại biểu Quốc hội: Hãng bay cần tự động hoàn tiền cho khách bị chậm, hủy chuyến

VN Express | Local Language | News | Nov. 14, 2025 | Regulation

On November 12, the National Assembly debated amendments to the Civil Aviation Law, focusing on improving compensation mechanisms for passengers affected by domestic flight delays and cancellations. Current statistics show a decline in on-time performance, with the overall industry rate at 64.6%, Vietjet at 55%, and Vietnam Airlines at about 70%. Deputies expressed concern over vague regulations regarding refunds and compensation, citing frequent delays and poor communication from airlines.

Deputy Huỳnh Thị Phúc highlighted passenger frustration with unclear delay reasons and frequent delays exceeding two hours, sometimes causing confrontations. She proposed strict limits on the number of allowable delays, mandatory public disclosure of delay reasons, and a maximum refund timeline of seven working days. Similarly, Deputy Nguyễn Tâm Hùng recommended automatic compensation within seven days, a 3-day complaint response time, and a full resolution within 30 days, banning deductions of service fees from refunds when the fault lies with the airline.

Currently, compensation ranges from 200,000 to 400,000 VND for domestic flights and 25 to 150 USD for international routes, with a required payout period not exceeding 14 working days. Minister of Construction Trần Hồng Minh acknowledged infrastructure constraints, particularly at Tân Sơn Nhất airport, as a significant cause of delays. He explained the airport’s runways are too close for simultaneous takeoffs and landings, requiring substantial investment for expansion. Weather-related disruptions also contribute to delays, he noted, urging understanding from deputies and the public.