Twenty-one companies and one fund delisted shares in the first half of this year, the State Securities Commission revealed on July 4, reducing the total number of listed companies in the country.

Of the number, 16 companies delisted under request, three volunteered to delist and two moved to trade shares on the unlisted public company market (UpCoM), the commission said at a meeting in the capital.
There were also seven new listed firms during the first six months, bringing the total number of listed companies on the nation's two stock exchanges to around 740.

The total capital raised through the issuance of shares and bidding of government bonds over the reviewed period, reached 114.84 trillion VND (5.42 billion USD), up 37 percent year-on-year.

However, raising capital through issuing shares fell sharply, reaching only 2.34 trillion VND (111.4 million USD), declining 58 percent. Meanwhile, equitisation and bond bidding value both jumped around 70 percent.

In the second half of the year, the commission will continue to help reduce difficulties for enterprises, attract foreign investment and extend trading hours to enhance liquidity.

In addition, the commission will also consider setting up a credit rating organisation, develop measures to help businesses increase funding through the stock market and reduce administration procedures.

At the same time, it will issue an accounting regime applicable to securities firms and fund management companies which will separate assets of investors and brokerages.

Increasing sanctions for violations in the stock market is also an important task of the last six months, the commission said.-VNA