VN-Index gains on last-minute buying

The index stayed in the red most of the day, but a late buying surge helped it close 1.84 points higher.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange increased by 0.25 percent to VND11.26 trillion ($480.9 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 16 tickers fall.

PNJ of Phu Nhuan Jewelry dropped 2.6 percent, and HPG of steel giant Hoa Phat closed 2 percent lower.

MWG of electronics retailer Mobile World lost 1.6 percent, and CTG of state-owned lender VietinBank fell 1.3 percent.

Nine blue chips rose, led by three energy tickers with PLX of fuel distributor Petrolimex rising 4.6 percent.

GAS of Petrovietnam Gas surged 4.5 percent, and POW of Petrovietnam Power closed 2.7 percent higher.

Other winners included STB of lender Sacombank, up 1.8 percent, and SAB of brewer Sabeco, up 1.7 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers to the tune of VND291.03 billion, focusing on HPG, VHM of property giant Vinhomes, and DXG of property company Dat Xanh Group.

The HNX-Index at the Hanoi Stock Exchange, where mid and small caps list, was down 0.07 percent while the UPCoM-Index at the Unlisted Public Companies Market was up by 0.11 percent.