Blue chip stocks hit highest in weeks

The index closed two points higher after losing nearly one point on Friday. Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) increased by 31 percent to VND16.94 trillion ($730.64 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 11 tickers gained. GAS of state-owned Petrovietnam Gas rose 4.6 percent to a new peak, having increased by 37 percent in the last three weeks. MSN of conglomerate Masan Group went up 3.7 percent to the highest in over a month.

PLX of fuel distributor Petrolimex gained 3.2 percent to the highest in over a month. Sixteen blue chip stocks fell, with TPB of private TPBank losing 3.6 percent. STB of Ho Chi Minh City-based lender Sacombank dropped 3.1 percent, while NVL of real estate developer Novaland Group lost 1.5 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers to the tune of VND44 billion, mainly buying DPM of Petrovietnam Fertilizer & Chemicals Corporation and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Jsc (BSR).

The HNX-Index at the Hanoi Stock Exchange, where mid and small caps list, was down 1.18 percent while the UPCoM-Index at the Unlisted Public Companies Market fell 0.29 percent.