Investors watch stocks move at BIDV Securities Company. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

The VN Index rose 0.3 per cent to 779.05 points on Monday morning as banks continued their show of strength, backed by solid earnings in the first half of 2017.

Bank stocks were the biggest gainers, with an average growth of 1.5 per cent, data on vietstock.vn showed.

Of the six listed banks on the HCM Stock Exchange that gained, BIDV (BID) rose the highest with a growth of 3.8 per cent, Vietinbank (CTG) went up 2.3 per cent, while both Military Bank (MBB) and Sacombank (STB) were up over 1 per cent.

Blue chips posted a mixed response. While PV Gas (GAS), VinGroup (VIC) and Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) advanced, Vinamilk (VNM), Novaland Investment (NVL), FPT Corp (FPT), Masan Group (MSN) and Hoa Phat Group (HPG) declined.

On the Ha Noi stock Exchange, the HNX Index inched up 0.13 per cent to close at 100.69 points.

Liquidity was positive with around 212 million shares worth a combined VND3 trillion (US$132 million) being traded in the two markets.

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. — VNS