On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index gained 0.53 per cent to end at 79.96 points.— Photo cafef.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The VN-Index crossed the key level of 600 points this morning to reach 602.70 points, up 0.61 per cent over yesterday, again due to rallies made by blue chips.

On the HCM Stock Exchange, software giant FPT Corporation (FPT) rose 2 per cent to be traded at VND51,000 (US$2.42) a share, following the information that the group has appointed Tomokazu Hamaguchi, chairman of Japan Information Technology Services Industry Association, to its management board.

Hamaguchi was former president and CEO of NTT Data Corporation, the sixth largest global IT services company and a Fortune 32 telecommunications and IT services company. This move shows FPT's ambition in reaching out to the world.

Other large-cap shares such as PV Gas (GAS), Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Vietcombank (VCB) and Hoa Phat Group (HPG) also increased from 0.5 to 1.8 per cent.

The VN30, which tracks the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity, was also up 0.33 per cent to stand at 641.08 points.

Liquidity was modest with nearly 44 million shares, worth VND802 billion ($38 million), being exchanged by the end of the morning.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index gained 0.53 per cent to end at 79.96 points.

Trading was sluggish as only 21 million shares worth VND264.26 billion ($12.5 million) were traded.

PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVX) is the leading stock with the trading of more than 5.8 million shares, climbing 4.4 per cent to touch VND4,700 per share.

The afternoon session will resume at 1pm. — VNS