PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - July 22

HANOI, July 22 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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FINANCIAL NEWS:

TUOI TRE

-- Gold prices surged 290,000 dong ($17.5) to about 19.23 million dong ($1,165) per tael while the dollar on the free market also jumped to around 17,000 dong following the increase in retail petrol prices on Monday.

-- The State Bank of Vietnam has urged people to avoid buying and hoarding foreign currencies.

-- The government said it would provide more financial support to fishermen after Monday's petrol price hike.

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THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM

-- International Finance Corp, a large shareholder of Asia Commercial Bank ACB.HN, agreed to sell more than 16 million shares in the bank a price of 140,000 dong per share to Standard Chartered Plc (STAN.L).

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ECONOMIC AND GENERAL NEWS:

NHAN DAN

-- Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai urged property developers to increase supply of homes to the market to fill a shortage expected in the next few years.

-- Vietnamese businesses have received licences to invest up to $1.07 billion in 109 projects in Laos, the government said.

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