HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The national stock market continued to advance this morning, riding on high liquidity and the rise of gas shares.

By the end of the morning, the market traded 120 million shares, worth VND1.95 trillion (US$90.39 million).

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index added 0.51 per cent to close at 619.58 points, with 113 gainers and 87 losers.

Blue chips continued to help the market, with the VN30 Index hitting 643.09 points with 16 gainers and seven losers.

The market reached the benchmark of 623 points, but the fall of bank shares and securities shares such as HCM City Securities Corporation (HCM) and Vietcombank (VCB) restrained the market growth.

All gas shares rose. Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Services Corporation (PVD) made a gain of VND2,500 – equal to 4.58 per cent – to stand at VND54,500 per share.

Saigon Securities Incorporation (SSI) and Petrovietnam Transportation Corporation (PVT) led the trading, with more than four million each of their shares being exchanged.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index ended at 88.42 points, an increase of 0.82 per cent, and a balanced market condition with 77 rising codes and 79 falling ones.

Saigon Thuong Tin Real-Estate Joint Stock Company (SCR) led the market with more than 3.2 million of its shares being traded, gaining 1.16 per cent to end at VND8,700 per share.

Gas shares led the market, with Petro Vietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVX) being the blue chip that made the largest gain of five per cent to reach VND4,200 each.

The afternoon session will start at 1pm. — VNS