VN-Index approaches 1,500 points milestone again

The index stayed in the green throughout the day and closed 12 points higher and is 2.5 points away from surpassing the 1,500-point from which it fell starting November 25.

VN-Index ended the year 35.7 percent higher.

Trading value on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), on which the index is based, rose 18 percent to VND26.09 trillion ($1.14 billion).

The VN30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 22 tickers in the green, led by NVL of real estate developer Novaland Group with a 5.4 percent gain.

BID of state-owned lender BIDV rose 4.8 percent to a near six-month high.

PNJ of Phu Nhuan Jewelry gained 4 percent to a two-week high with trading volume rising 85 percent from the average of the past 10 sessions.

Two banks followed: STB of Ho Chi Minh City-based lender Sacombank rose 3.3 percent while ACB of Asia Commercial Bank gained 1.8 percent.

Eight blue chip tickers fell, with KDH of real estate firm Khang Dien House falling 2.1 percent and SSI of leading brokerage SSI Securities Corporation losing 1.5 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the sixth straight session to the tune of VND117 billion.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, gained 2.67 percent while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market rose 1 percent.