Viet Nam’s benchmark VN Index advanced on Monday morning, boosted by the top 10 largest-cap stocks. - Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

Viet Nam’s benchmark VN Index advanced on Monday morning, boosted by the top 10 largest-cap stocks.

The VN Index edged 0.37 per cent to close at 1,125.37 points. It had gained nearly 0.5 per cent on Friday.

More than 144.5 million shares, worth VND5 trillion (US$225 million), were traded on the southern bourse.

The market breadth was positive with 151 gaining shares, 121 declining ones and 42 stocks ending flat.

Blue-chip stocks were in the positive territory as eight of the 10 largest-cap stocks by market capitalisation rose.

The gainers included budget carrier Vietjet Air (VJC), property developer Vingroup (VIC), PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS) and retailer Vincom Retail (VRE).

Among other stocks, Binh Minh Plastic JSC (BMP) added 0.7 per cent after the Thai plastic company, Nawaplastic Industries Co Ltd, wanted to buy all 24 million shares that the Vietnamese firm would sell on March 9.

The minor HNX Index on Ha Noi Stock Exchange was down 0.28 per cent to end at 127.89 points, reversing from Friday’s growth of 0.9 per cent.

More than 32.4 million shares, worth VND603.6 billion, were traded on the northern bourse.

The UPCOM Index on the Unlisted Public Company Market gained nearly one per cent to stand at 60.77 points.

The unlisted market index had increased by 0.6 per cent on Friday.

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. – VNS