Shares rose slightly in local markets on Monday morning on cautious investor sentiment following last week’s negative international developments.

Both the benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange and the HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange inched up 0.1 per cent to close at 719.3 points and 89.74 points, respectively.

The VN Index had dropped by 1.6 per cent over the previous three sessions; the northern bourse had fallen by 0.4 per cent on Friday.

Market trading liquidity was moderate with around 104.8 million shares worth VND1.82 trillion (US$81.1 million) being traded.

Investors remained cautious on Monday morning after both global and domestic markets were affected by negative geopolitical developments in North Korea and the Middle East.

Several investors are also waiting for some of the listed companies’ annual shareholder meetings on Monday morning, such as Vietinbank and PetroVietnam Gas.

Among large-cap shares, brewer Sabeco (SAB), Faros Construction Corp (ROS) and dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM) were the strongest gainers.

At the other end, Vietcombank (VCB), Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID), insurance-finance company Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and property developer Novaland (NVL) weighed down the market.

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. — VNS