HO CHI MINH CITY, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnam Stock Index or VN-Index, a capitalization-weighted index of all the companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, fluctuated this week, but still maintained above the 680-point threshold.
Large-cap stocks continued to lead the market trend this week. Half of the 30 highest valued stocks climbed, including bankers BIDV (BID), Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), Sacombank (STB), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Saigon Securities Inc (SSI), diary firm Vinamilk (VNM), real estate firms Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA), and FLC Group (FLC). Additionally, energy stocks continued to perform well, boosted by strong increases in global oil prices.
However, some blue chips declined and restrained the market rise, including dairy giant Vinamilk (VNM), real estate developer VinGroup (VIC) and steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG).
The VN-Index closed at closed at 683.95 points on Friday, down 3.37 points, or 0.49 percent, from the previous trading day's close. From the previous week's closing session, the index lost 1.78 points, or 0.26 percent.
During the week, the index experienced three ups and two downs, posting the highest level of 687.32 points on Thursday, and the lowest level of 683.05 points on Monday. In comparison, it ranged between 677.04 points and 688.55 points in the previous week.
About 140.056 million shares worth 2.798 trillion Vietnamese dong (VND) (127.32 million U.S. dollars) changed hands on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on Friday, a decrease of 7.57 percent in volume and of 0.87 percent in value against Thursday.
Market sentiment was positive after the Government showed its determination to push up economic growth in the coming months to attain the GDP growth rate target of 6.3-6.5 percent by year-end, said local stock experts.
In the next trading sessions, the index would continue rally with alternate ups and downs to move towards the new threshold of 700-720 points, predicted Bao Viet Securities Company.
