The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rose 0.32 per cent to close Thursday morning at 780.79 points. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

Shares gained in both local markets on Thursday morning, driven by strong demand for stocks of large-cap companies and brokerages.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rose 0.32 per cent to close at 780.79 points. It had increased by 0.4 per cent on Wednesday.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange climbed 0.35 per cent to end at 102.28 points. The northern market index has jumped a total 4 per cent in the past six days.

Around 192 million shares worth VND2.58 trillion (US$115 million) were traded on both bourses.

The stock market continued to receive a strong boost from shares of large-cap firms, which remained attractive to investors.

Gainers on the VN30 Index, which tracks the performance of the 30 largest companies by market capitalisation, include PetroVietnam Gas (GAS), dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM), property developer Vingroup (VIC), consumer goods producer Masan Group (MSN) and IT group FPT (FPT).

Brokerages also stayed positive on investors’ hope that these firms would post higher profits in the second quarter. Stocks that performed well include Agribank Securities (AGR), MB Securities (MBS), BIDV Securities (BSI), Sai Gon Securities (SSI) and HCM City Securities (HCM).

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. — VNS