Vietnamese shares were mixed on the two local markets on Monday morning, with moderate market trading liquidity.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched up 0.2 per cent to close at 704.95 points. The southern market index gained 0.5 per cent on Friday.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange dropped 0.1 per cent to end at 85.96 points after struggling to remain positive in the morning session. The northern market index advanced a total of 1.3 per cent in the previous three days.

Energy and brokerage sectors were the most significant gainers on Monday morning.

Local energy stocks made huge gains after oil prices jumped in the previous three trading days. Brent crude finished last week at US$56.7 per barrel, up a total of three per cent after three days.

On the local market, PetroVietnam Coating Corp (PVB), PetroVietnam Technical Services Corp (PVS), PetroVietnam Mud Drilling Corp (PVC) and PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services Corp (PVD) rose between 3.3 per cent and 7.8 per cent each.

Securities stocks were also the focus of the market this morning, with BIDV Securities Corp (BSI), HCM City Securities Corp (HCM), Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) and Bao Viet Securities Corp (BVS) among the significant gainers.

On the opposite side, profit-taking hit bank stocks and dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM), pushing the stocks down from their closing price levels on Friday.

More than 117 million shares were traded this morning, worth VND1.83 trillion ($81.3 million). — VNS