The benchmark VN-Index increased 0.49 per cent to end the morning trade at 910.67 points. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

Shares edged up on Wednesday morning, propped up by financial stocks.

The benchmark VN-Index increased 0.49 per cent to end the morning trade at 910.67 points.

More than 228 million shares worth VND3.8 trillion (US$163.8 million) were traded on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange in the morning.

Shares of banks and securities companies were among the best performers.

Six of 10 listed banks on the southern bourses gained value while three closed flat. Only Tien Phong Bank (TPB) inched down 0.4 per cent.

The Big Three – Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG) and BIDV (BID) – were the biggest gainers with growth of more than 1 per cent each.

Large securities firms such as Saigon Securities Inc (SSI), Ho Chi Minh Securities (HCM), VNDirect Securities (VND) and Viet Dragon Securities (VSD) increased between 0.6-2.3 per cent.

Growth of large caps also supported the market. Eighteen of the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity (VN30) gained while eight declined.

PV Gas (GAS), PV Power (POW), Masan Group (MSN) and Mobile World Investment (MWG) climbed 1-3 per cent each.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index inched up 0.38 per cent to 132.7 points.

More than 35.6 million shares worth VND446 billion were traded on the northern bourse.

The afternoon trade starts at 1pm. — VNS