On September 18, the Brent crude oil price decreased for the third straight day, falling below $104 per barrel. This decline comes as concerns over supply have eased, and traders are shifting focus to upcoming diplomatic negotiations that may influence the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.

In contrast, gold prices saw a rise, trading around $4,350 per ounce after experiencing a nearly 2% increase the previous day. This uptick in gold prices can be attributed to the Federal Reserve's recent decision to raise interest rates for the first time in 2023, which has helped alleviate inflation concerns.

The Federal Reserve increased rates by 0.25 percentage points, bringing the target range to 3.75-4%. Analysts predict that a stronger US dollar, elevated oil prices, and capital flows towards the US will put pressure on the USD/VND exchange rate, potentially affecting the Vietnamese dong's interest rates. However, foreign direct investment (FDI) and a narrowing trade deficit may provide some support for the VND, with projections estimating the exchange rate to be between 26,800 and 27,000 VND by year-end.

Additionally, Vietnam has imported over 44,000 cars from China in the first eight months of the year, amounting to more than $1.5 billion. This reflects a significant increase in both quantity and value compared to the same period last year.

In the Vietnamese stock market, despite the Fed's rate hike, there has been an influx of capital into the domestic market. The VN-Index closed at 1,822.77 points, marking an increase of nearly 13 points from the previous session. This positive trend was also seen in the HNX-Index and UPCoM-Index, which ended at 273.9 points and 126.16 points, respectively.

Overall, the financial landscape is shifting, with oil prices declining and gold prices rising, as market participants navigate through these changes and their implications for the broader economy.