The VN Index inched up 0.2 per cent in the early trading to close at 674.70 points. — Photo Vietnamplus

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange recovered slightly this morning as investors reduced selling of blue chips.

The southern market index struggled most of the time during early trade to end 0.2 per cent higher at 674.70 points.

Better investor sentiment helped lift nearly half of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation on the VN30 Index.

The largest stocks that lifted the southern market included dairy firm Vinamilk (VNM), Vietcombank (VCB) and property developer Vingroup JSC (VIC).

VNM was up 0.4 per cent, VCB rose 1.3 per cent and VIC added 0.8 per cent.

Other blue chips that made gains were information technology FPT Corp (FPT), Mobile World Corp (MWG) and PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services Corp (PVD).

These stocks gained 0.3 per cent, 1.4 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

However, market condition remained negative as some other blue chips were still in negative territory, such as consumer goods producer Masan Group (MSN), Vietinbank (CTG) and Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID).

On the northern bourse, the HNX Index ended nearly flat at 82.24 points, driven by Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities Corp (SHS) and IB Securities JSC (VIX).

Nearly 60.8 million shares were traded this morning, worth more than VND991 billion (US$44 million). — VNS