PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - July 17

HANOI, July 17 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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FINANCIAL NEWS:

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THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM

-- The State Bank has asked banks to provide foreign currency loans to the Vietnam Garment and Textile Group as the group was facing a shortage of foreign currency.

-- Partly private Dong A Bank was granted approval by the State Securities Commission to issue 24 million bonus shares to its existing shareholders.

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THANH NIEN