Vietnamese shares extended growth on Friday morning as investor confidence bolstered on quarterly and yearly corporate earnings for last year’s performances.

The benchmark VN Index on HCM Stock Exchange advanced 1.11 per cent to close at 1,061.92 points. It had gained 1.5 per cent on Thursday.

The minor HNX Index on Ha Noi Stock Exchange rose 0.35 per cent to end at 122.33 points. The northern market index finished Thursday up 1.22 per cent.

Nearly 215 million shares were traded on the two local exchanges, worth VND5.68 trillion (US$252.4 million).

Market trading condition was quite balanced, with 215 gaining stocks, 227 declining stocks and 111 stocks remaining unchanged.

According to Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities Co, investors were keen on corporate shares that promised good performance in 2017 and signalled better prospects for 2018.

These included banks, securities companies, insurance firms, property developers, healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses and building contractors.

Leading companies in these sectors made gains, such as Vietcombank (VCB), Eximbank (EIB), Viet Dragon Securities (VDS), Viet Capital Securities (VCI), Vincom Retail (VRE), Viglacera JSC (VGC) and steel producer Hoa Phat Group (HPG).

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. — VNS