Vietnam’s parliament closes session; China’s oil giants post profits; BOJ deputy hints at rate path

Vietnam’s National Assembly wrapped up its latest session on Saturday, passing several key laws on land management and credit institutions. The assembly also confirmed new deputy prime ministers. The session’s close comes as Hanoi pushes to streamline administrative procedures and attract foreign investment, though analysts note the pace of legal reforms remains a watchpoint for businesses. In China, the country’s two largest oil and gas producers reported stronger-than-expected annual earnings. PetroChina and Sinopec both cited higher domestic gas demand and improved refining margins. However, both firms flagged rising costs for imported liquefied natural gas, a pressure point as Beijing shifts toward cleaner fuel. The results offer a mixed signal for global energy markets, where Chinese buying has been a key price driver. At the Bank of Japan, Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida delivered a speech in Tokyo that markets read as a subtle shift. He repeated the central bank’s stance on maintaining ultra-loose policy, but added that wage growth data “will be closely monitored” in the coming months. Investors took this as a sign that a near-term exit from negative interest rates, while not imminent, is no longer off the table. The yen ticked up briefly after the remarks before settling flat.