VN-Index increases for second consecutive session

The benchmark VN-Index, which tracks the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange's (HoSE) performance, jumped 5.81 points or 0.57% Tuesday to close at 1,033.75, the second consecutive gaining session.

The major bourse saw 274 gainers, including 14 hitting their ceiling prices, and 182 losers.

On the Hanoi bourse, the HNX-Index rose 1.93 points or 0.93% to 212.36, while the UPCOM-Index on the unlisted public company market increased 0.2 points or 0.26% to 76.49.

The trading value on the three bourses hit VND11,843 billion ($476.3 million), including VND10,738 billion on the HoSE.

The VN30-Index, which tracks 30 largest-cap stocks, went up 11.25 points or 1.1% to 1,038.09, with 17 gainers and nine losers.

Meanwhile, the VNMidcap and VNSmallcap, featuring mid- and small-cap stocks, increased by 0.18% and 0.83%, respectively.

Banking stocks were the main support for the market gain, with OCB of Oriental Commercial Bank hitting its ceiling price and many others expanding in the range of 3-5%.

In this session, HPG of steel maker Hoa Phat set a record in trading volume with more than 81 million shares changing hands for VND1,244 billion ($50 million). Of which 35 million shares worth VND531 billion were sold by foreign investors.

Its record loss of nearly VND1.8 trillion ($72.43 million) in the third quarter triggered massive sell-offs from Monday. HPG closed the Tuesday session at VND15,000 ($0.6) per share, down 13.4% after two sessions. Its market capitalization is now VND87,200 billion ($3.5 billion).

Foreign investors were net sellers to the tune of nearly VND760 billion ($30.5 million) on the HoSE, mainly selling HPG.