Investors watch share movements on a Bao Viet Securities trading floor. — VNA/VNS Photo Pham Hau

Vietnamese shares extended their gains on Thursday morning despitecautious investor sentiment and increasing selling pressure.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rose 0.29 per cent to close at 985.01 points. It has gained a total of 2.16 per cent in the previous five sessions.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange ended at 110.01 points, little changed from Wednesday’s close of 109.99 points.

More than 98 million shares were exchanged on the two bourses, worth VND2.09 trillion (US$92.9 million).

Market trading was balanced with 195 declining stocks and 185 gainers.

Low liquidity indicated that investor sentiment was poor in the morning, according to securities firms.

Large-cap VN30 Index remained positive, gaining 0.11 per cent to finish at 960.69 points, but half of the 30 largest stocks in the basket declined while only nine advanced.

Among the gainers were property developer Vingroup (VIC) and its sub-unit Vincom Retail (VRE), which advanced 1.4 per cent and 2.1 per cent.

Declining large-cap stocks included brewer Sabeco (SAB), real estate firm Novaland (NVL), DHG Pharmaceutical JSC (DHG) and logistics firm Gemadept (GMD).

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. – VNS