News about large-cap stocks

StockStory flags JPMorgan Chase (JPM, $902.2 billion market cap) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, $1.14 trillion) as stocks to sell, and puts Applied Materials (AMAT, $324.8 billion) on its watchlist. JPM's revenue grew 8% annually over the last two years, lagging other banks, and its 2.5% net interest margin is weak. Berkshire's revenue rose 4.2% annually over five years and its EPS grew 7% annually, both below the financials sector. Applied Materials, founded in 1967, is described as the largest provider of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment. The article argues that the scale of these mega-caps can limit their ability to find new sources of growth.

VN-Index reversed and fell more than 16 points, or 0.94%, to 1,689 points on October 19, losing the 1,700-point psychological level after briefly topping 1,721 earlier in the session. Pressure came mainly from large caps: VIC fell 3.72% to VND 207,000 per share, taking more than 13 points off the index, while VHM dropped 1.15% to VND 60,300. VCB, VPB and HPG also weighed on the index. Advancers still outnumbered decliners on HoSE, but real estate fell 2.51% and FPT lost 1.89%, while energy rose 1.22%. Trading value reached VND 13,354 billion. Foreign investors were net sellers of about VND 852 billion, led by VCB with over VND 103 billion, while FRT drew net buying of about VND 151 billion.