Shares extended gains on the two local stock exchanges on Wednesday morning because of strong investor buying. — VNS Photo

Shares extended gains on the two local stock exchanges on Wednesday morning because of strong investor buying.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange added 0.34 per cent to end at 753.89 points. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX Index rose 1.6 per cent to 97.27 points.

The securities and banking sectors recorded the highest growth, averaging 2.35 per cent and 1.29 per cent, respectively, data on Vietstock.vn showed.

Shares of all nine listed banks on the two exchanges advanced, led by Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), up 3.56 per cent; Military Bank (MBB), up 2.84 per cent; and Vietinbank (CTG), up 2.1 per cent.

Big brokerage companies such as Saigon Securities Inc (SSI), HCM Securities Corp (HCM), FPT Securities (FTS) and BIDV Securities Co (BSI) gained between 0.4 per cent and 2.3 per cent.

Twenty-three of the 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity on the southern bourse rose; only four fell.

Liquidity increased, with a total of 171 million shares worth around VND3.3 trillion (US$146.7 million) being traded, up 28.6 per cent in volume and 37.5 per cent in value compared to Tuesday morning’s trade.

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. — VNS