The benchmark VN Index picked up 0.31 per cent to close at 781.07 points on Thursday morning. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

Shares extended gains on Thursday morning on the HCM Stock Exchange, with the benchmark VN Index picking up 0.31 per cent to close at 781.07 points.

Large-cap stocks again led the uptrend, with 18 of the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity on the southern bourse advancing; 10 declined.

Gainers were from across sectors such as finance, steel manufacturing, retail and real estate, and included Vinamilk, VinGroup, Vietcombank, BIDV, Vietinbank, Masan Group, Mobile World Group, FPT Corp, Hoa Sen Group, Hoa Phat Group and Petrolimex.

On the defensive side, big firms such as Saigon Securities Inc, Sacombank, HDG Pharmaceutical, PetroVietnam Drilling and Wells Service, confectioners Kido Group and brewery Sabeco weighed down the market.

Real estate developer FLC Group continued to lead the market in terms of trading volume - 25.7 million of its shares were traded - and was the most active stock in the morning trade. Its share price, however, fell for the third day on Thursday after a seven-day rising streak, and was down 2.9 per cent at VND7,700 per share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX Index was up 0.56 per cent at 103.91 points.

A total of 157.7 million shares worth VND2.8 trillion (US$122.7 million) were traded in the two markets.

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. – VNS