The market benchmarks extended rallies on Friday morning, boosted by gains in large-cap stocks, especially in the real estate sector.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) rose 4.64 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 1,4781.25 points.

The market's breadth, however, was negative with 204 stock rising, while 236 stocks declined.

Liquidity was higher than yesterday as the trading value on HoSE climbed 40.5 per cent, to VNĐ17.63 trillion (US$769 million).

Meanwhile, foreign investors net sold a value of VNĐ230 billion on the southern market.

The rally was backed by some pillar stocks, especially in real estate. The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, rose 4.01 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 1,514.18 points.

Of the VN30 basket, 14 stocks increased while 10 slid and six stayed unchanged.

Vinhomes (VHM) led the gains this morning, up 3.52 per cent, followed by Vincome Retail (VRE), Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR) and Becamex (BCM), up in range of 1.45 - 3.32 per cent.

However, a selling force was still lingering, with Vingroup (VIC) posting the biggest losses, down 0.9 per cent.

Other big stocks limiting the index's gain were Hoa Phat (HPG), down 1.37 per cent, and BIDV (BID), down 1 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index edged up 0.95 points, or 0.21 per cent, to end the morning trade at 457.98 points. VNS