While large banks have experienced only modest gains in their stock prices, smaller lenders have made a significant breakthrough. This divergence highlights a growing disparity within the banking sector and reflects a rising appetite for risk among investors seeking outsized returns from less prominent financial institutions. The stock market has staged a strong recovery since bottoming out in April. A surge in capital inflows has been a standout feature, with average liquidity from April to June reaching its highest level in three years. Banking—accounting for nearly one-third of total market capitalization—has also rebounded. However, performance across bank stocks has varied noticeably. Small- and medium-sized banks such as KLB, ABB, and NCB have posted impressive gains, while larger institutions like VCB, BIDV, and ACB have seen more subdued growth. This contrast suggests that, beyond solid fundamentals, a portion of the cash flow is being driven by speculative behavior, potentially inflating stock prices in pursuit of short-term gains. Small-cap bank stocks lure investors The VN-Index has surged over the past three months, rebounding strongly from the tariff shock experienced in early April. The upward momentum solidified in June and accelerated in July, when the index reached a new all-time high of 1,557 […]